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10 Best Tea Infusers in 2022 (Tea Sommelier-Reviewed)

10 Best Tea Infusers in 2022 (Tea Sommelier-Reviewed)

Are you looking to drink some of the delicious blends of tea that are only available in loose-leaf varieties? If so, you will need a way to brew the tea without all of the leaves escaping into your drink and this is where infusers are invaluable. They will allow the full flavor of any tea to infuse while preventing the leaves from entering your cup.

We've done the research to find the best tea infusers available and chose the Extra Fine Tea Infuser by Yoassi as our favorite. The fine mesh keeps the leaves inside and the wide handles ensure the basket can be used with even the largest cups. We have nine more infusers for you to peruse and also a buying guide reviewed by a certified tea sommelier to help you make your choice.

Last updated: 05-24-2022

Table of Contents

How We Chose Our Products

We picked our 10 best tea infusers by looking at the following criteria:

Whether it is made from stainless steel, silicone, or paper
Whether it is a basket or submersion infuser
The size of the infuser
If the infuser comes with a container
The safety features of the infuser

Make sure you keep these in mind while you look through our picks and for further information, check our buying guide.

Compare the 10 Best Tea Infusers

Image	Yoassi	Chefast	House Again	Genuine Fred	Fox Run	OXO	Pure Zen Tea	Bstean	Ototo	FineGood
Name	Extra Fine Tea Infuser	Tea Infuser Set	Extra Fine Mesh Tea Infuser with Drip Tray	Mr. Tea Silicone Tea Infuser	Spice Infuser and Tea Ball	Twisting Tea Ball Infuser	Tumbler with Infuser	Tea Filter Bags	Baby Nessie Loose Leaf Tea Infuser	6 Pack Silicone Tea Infuser
Features	Best for Wide Cups	Best Set of Multiple Sized Infusers	Best for Not Allowing Leaves to Escape	Best Universal Silicone Infuser	Best Large Infuser	Best for Tall Mugs	Best for Brewing on the Move	Best Disposable Option	Best Fun Silicone Infuser	Best for Guests
Price	$9.99	$15.49	$8.99	$12.00	$8.99	$11.95	$35.95	$7.89	$16.75	$11.59
Material	Stainless steel	Stainless steel	Stainless steel, silicone	Silicone	Stainless steel	Stainless steel	Stainless steel	Wood pulp	Silicone	Silicone
Type	Basket	Submersion	Submersion	Submersion	Submersion	Submersion	Basket	Submersion	Submersion	Submersion
Extra features	Lid, wide double handles	Tea scoop, bag clip, lids, chains	Tea tray, dishwasher-safe	Dishwasher- and microwave-safe	Chain, hook, dishwasher-safe	Scoops, dishwasher-safe	Tumbler, travel sleeve	Drawstring, heart clip	Dishwasher-safe	Food grade silicone
Size	2 x 2 x 3 in. (basket only)	2.55 x 2.55 x 2.44 in. (large), 2 x 2 x 1.9 in. (small)	1.5 x 1.5 x 6.3 in.	4.75 x 3.25 in.	3 x 3 x 3 in.	3 x 3 x 3 in. (strainer)	-	2.75 x 2.75 x 3.15 in.	5.71 x 1.97 x 1.97 in.	1.6 x 2.3 in.
Link	View Amazon View Akova Tea	View Amazon	View Amazon View House Again	View Amazon View Fred	View Amazon View Walmart	View Amazon View Williams Sonoma View OXO	View Amazon View Pure Zen Tea	View Amazon View Bstean	View Amazon View Teapigs View Ototo	View Amazon

10 Best Tea Infusers

Now that you know what to look for in a tea infuser, here are a few of our favorites to help you get started on your search. We made our choices based on the points listed in the buying guide below, as well as reviewer comments when available.

*Please note that these matcha tea sets were chosen by our writers after extensive research. They are not necessarily affiliated with or recommended by Daniela Titiun.

YoassiExtra Fine Tea Infuser

$9.99

Best for Wide Cups

Pros:

Fine mesh keeps tea leaves inside
Can be used with wide cups
Includes lid to keep the heat inside
Dishwasher-safe

Cons:

Not the strongest of materials, according to some reviews

Although the basket itself is only three inches wide, the double handles on this infuser stretch out to just under five inches, ensuring the basket can sit on even the widest cups. It is made from stainless steel and has very fine holes to infuse your tea while not allowing the leaves to escape.

There are some reports from reviewers that after a few months of use, the bottom of the basket fell out, rendering it unusable. Most reviewers agree that this basket is easy to use and effective at infusing tea, however, They praise the size of the basket for giving the tea leaves room to expand.

Material	Stainless steel
Type	Basket
Extra features	Lid, wide double handles
Size	2 x 2 x 3 in. (basket only)

ChefastTea Infuser Set

$15.49

View product on Amazon

Best Set of Multiple Sized Infusers

Pros:

Small and large basket infusers
Infusers have lids and long chains
Includes a tea scoop with bag clip
One-year warranty

Cons:

Some reports that lids may not lock fully

This set of two submersion infusers comes in two different sizes. The smaller one is perfect for single-serving cups whereas the larger one works great for teapots. With this set, you also get a tea scoop to help you fill the infusers.

Some reviewers report that locking the lids on the infusers can be difficult and that the latches can become loose after a few uses. However, the mesh is the correct balance of being fine enough for tea to steep without leaves escaping through the holes.

Material	Stainless steel
Type	Submersion
Extra features	Tea scoop, bag clip, lids, chains
Size	2.55 x 2.55 x 2.44 in. (large), 2 x 2 x 1.9 in. (small)

House AgainExtra Fine Mesh Tea Infuser with Drip Tray

$8.99

Best for Not Allowing Leaves to Escape

Pros:

Infuser is made from fine mesh
BPA-free silicone
Tray can be used to rest infuser on
Set of four color-coded infusers

Cons:

Can be tricky to attach the handle to the infuser, according to some

Silicone and stainless steel both have their advantages and by using both materials, this infuser takes advantage of them. The basket is made from stainless steel and has the small infuser holes associated with that material. The silicone handles ensure the heat doesn't travel and add a colorful edge to each infuser.

According to reviewers, it can be difficult to put the silicone handles back onto the infuser once it has been filled. They also say that the infusers can struggle to infuse tea in larger mugs. Reviewers praise the infusers for not leaking tea leaves though and say they're easy to clean.

Material	Stainless steel, silicone
Type	Submersion
Extra features	Tea tray, dishwasher-safe
Size	1.5 x 1.5 x 6.3 in.

Genuine FredMr. Tea Silicone Tea Infuser

$12.00

Best Universal Silicone Infuser

Pros:

Sits on the edge of your cup
Fun design
Food-safe, tasteless silicone
Dishwasher- and microwave-safe

Cons:

Holes are too large for small leaves

Meet Mr. Tea, a cute silicone infuser that leans on the side of your cup as he brews your tea. The design of the infuser means that it doesn't matter how wide or tall your cup is but you will need to ensure you use enough water to cover the infuser to the waist so it can infuse.

The holes can be too large for finer teas according to reviewers, so it's best to use this with larger leaf teas. Reviewers say that it does infuse well and is more effective than many other silicone infusers at brewing tea. Overall, they liked how easy to use this item is and that it can be used on any cup.

Material	Silicone
Type	Submersion
Extra features	Dishwasher- and microwave-safe
Size	4.75 x 3.25 in.

Fox RunSpice Infuser and Tea Ball

$8.99

Best Large Infuser

Pros:

Extra-large infuser
Easy to fill and clean
Chain and hook are attached
Dishwasher-safe

Cons:

Mesh is thin and a little weak, according to some

If you're looking for an infuser for a large mug or a teapot, this may be the right choice for you. It's large enough to brew several cups of tea at once and can also be used as a spice infuser. The two halves of the infuser screw together to keep your tea leaves inside.

The quality of the mesh is questioned by some reviewers, however, as some found it to be too thin and prone to becoming misshapen. However, many other reviewers praise the infuser for its size and have used it for not only tea but also adding spices to soup and other food items.

Material	Stainless steel
Type	Submersion
Extra features	Chain, hook, dishwasher-safe
Size	3 x 3 x 3 in.

OXOTwisting Tea Ball Infuser

$11.95

Best for Tall Mugs

Pros:

Extra-long handle
Container doubles as a scoop
Dishwasher-safe
BPA-free plastic end on the handle

Cons:

Not enough space for all leaves to expand

This submersion infuser features a seven-inch-long handle that can reach down into even your tallest mug without getting lost. The ball head rotates fully open to also act as a tea scoop, eliminating the need for a separate spoon. It has small holes to keep your leaves inside, although the smallest particles can get through.

Reviewers say that you need to be careful when filling the infuser, as if it is too full it won't close correctly and the tea won't have enough room to expand and infuse. It's very easy to use and easy to clean, and this makes it a hit with most reviewers.

Material	Stainless steel
Type	Submersion
Extra features	Scoops, dishwasher-safe
Size	3 x 3 x 3 in. (strainer)

Pure Zen TeaTumbler with Infuser

$35.95

Best for Brewing on the Move

Pros:

Suitable for brewing hot or cold
Designed for drinking on the go
Double-wall insulated to retain heat
100 percent BPA-free glass

Cons:

Reports of leaks

This 13-ounce infuser-thermos combo is perfect for the tea lover on the go. It features a tall infuser basket that fits into either the top or bottom of the bottle and can be easily removed. The bottle is easy to clean as it opens at both ends and it can also be used without the infuser.

There are a few reports of the bottle leaking and there are also comments about how small the bottle is. However, most reviewers love both the design and functionality of this tumbler. They say it remains hot for a long time and makes brewing tea a breeze.

Material	Stainless steel
Type	Basket
Extra features	Tumbler, travel sleeve
Size	-

BsteanTea Filter Bags

$7.89

Best Disposable Option

Pros:

Biodegradable and chlorine-free
Bags are UV-processed and unbleached
Bags close securely with the drawstring
Included clip prevents losing bags in your drink

Cons:

Some reviewers say the seams can be weak

These teabags are a safe and biodegradable way to infuse your tea. They come in two different sizes and are sealed by pulling on the attached drawstrings. The strings measure just over six inches in length and with the included clip attached, you don't need to worry about losing the string in your cup.

Reviewers say that you need to be careful when filling these bags as the seams are a little weak and can split, especially if the bags are overfilled. The drawstring is effective at sealing the bags though and will prevent any tea from escaping.

Material	Wood pulp
Type	Submersion
Extra features	Drawstring, heart clip
Size	2.75 x 2.75 x 3.15 in.

OtotoBaby Nessie Loose Leaf Tea Infuser

$16.75

Best Fun Silicone Infuser

Pros:

Long neck makes it suitable for large cups
Made from food-grade and BPA-free silicone
Dishwasher-safe
Available in three colors

Cons:

Holes are too large for small leaves

This infuser is made entirely from silicone and will be a cute addition to any tea lover's collection. Nessie's long neck peaks out of your cup while the infuser contained in the body allows your tea to brew. At just over five inches tall, this infuser will sit in most cups and mugs.

However, according to reviewers, the holes in the infuser are too large, and using it with teas that have medium or small leaves will result in leaves in your tea. It's fine with larger leaf teas though and many reviewers praise the sturdiness of the neck and love how cute this is.

Material	Silicone
Type	Submersion
Extra features	Dishwasher-safe
Size	5.71 x 1.97 x 1.97 in.

FineGood6 Pack Silicone Tea Infuser

$11.59

View product on Amazon

Best for Guests

Pros:

Color-coded six-pack
Rope and tag are attached so bags won't get lost
Microwave and dishwasher safe
Food-grade, non-toxic silicone

Cons:

Holes are too big for fine tea

These adorable tea bag-shaped submersion infusers are ideal for guests as they are all suited for single-serve cups. They’re also different colors, which makes it easy to distinguish the cups. This is especially useful if your guests want different teas or extras.

However, reviewers report that the holes are on the larger side, and the bags themselves don’t allow much space for the tea leaves to spread out and infuse effectively. On the other hand, reviewers like the colors, the reusability, and how easy they are to fill.

Material	Silicone
Type	Submersion
Extra features	Food grade silicone
Size	1.6 x 2.3 in.

How to Choose a Tea Infuser – Buying Guide

When it comes to choosing a tea infuser, you shouldn’t just buy the first one you see. There are a few things that you should take into consideration so that you can brew the perfect cup of tea.

Choose From Different Materials for Different Flavor Profiles

Unsurprisingly, there are a few different material options when it comes to tea infusers. Here are a few of the most common ones you’ll find.

Stainless Steel Mesh Maintains Flavor and Steeps More Finely Crushed Leaves

For many people, stainless steel mesh tends to be the best overall option. This is because it doesn’t add any flavors to your tea, doesn't have any potentially dangerous chemicals, and is easy to clean after use. Stainless steel infusers can be found in both basket and submersion types, so you will have a large variety to choose from.

Stainless steel can be very effective at infusing tea, but an important concern is how large the infuser holes are. If the holes are too small, the tea won't infuse correctly and it will taste weak. However, if the holes are too big, then leaves might slip through the holes and into your tea.

Finding the right-sized holes to infuse your tea without allowing leaves to escape is a tricky balance and it can be very difficult to judge this without trying the infuser for yourself. We would recommend looking at reviews before purchasing a stainless steel infuser as this will give you a better idea of how effective the infuser is.

Tea Sommelier and Blogger

Daniela Titiun

Silicone for Fun Shapes and Colors

When you see something is made from silicone, it's usually going to be something that's cute to look at. Silicone is highly versatile and allows tea infusers to be made in fun shapes and colors. If you want to add some personality to your tea, then silicone infusers are the best choice.

However, much like stainless steel infusers, you have to be careful with the size of the holes. The holes are often larger in silicone infusers and have a tendency to allow leaves to escape. This is because silicone infusers aren't as effective at brewing tea as steel, so the holes have to be made larger. Try to avoid silicone infusers with tiny holes as they won't infuse your tea.

If you decide to get a silicone infuser, read reviews and check the packaging to make sure it’s high-quality food-grade silicone. This should also be noted in the product description if it's the case. This is important to check as if the silicone is of lower quality, it might have a plasticky flavor or leach chemicals into your tea.

Tea Sommelier and Blogger

Daniela Titiun

Paper Doesn’t Need to Be Washed, as It’s Disposable

Paper infusers can be seen as a nice middle ground between loose leaf tea and tea bags. You can fill them up with your nice, high-quality loose leaf tea, but rather than having to wash out your infuser after every use, you can just throw the whole thing away.

When choosing a paper infuser, look for one that’s unbleached to ensure that you’re not accidentally consuming any chemicals. If you are concerned about the environment and our expanding landfills, make sure you buy one that is fully biodegradable. Many disposable teabags and infusers are actually sealed with plastic.

Something else to look out for is that some paper infusers come with a string handle and some don’t. The string makes it easier to remove the infuser from your tea once brewed, and this can especially be helpful if you're brewing your tea in a tall tumbler.

Pick Between Basket and Submersion Infusers

There are two main types of tea infusers: basket infusers and submersion infusers. Deciding which one is right for you depends largely on your preferences.

Submersion Infusers Work for Smaller Servings

When using a submersion infuser, your tea is completely encased and fully submerged in the water. They’re not normally very large, so they’re ideal for small, single-serving cups.

Submersion infusers are probably the ones that you see around more often. They can come in fun shapes, such as a scuba diver relaxing in your tea. However, the cute gimmicky ones tend to be lower quality and aren’t quite as effective at steeping tea leaves.

If you choose a submersion infuser, look for an option that’s as large as possible, and be sure that the handle or chain is a good length for the cup you plan on using. You should also make sure that it can securely close so the leaves don't escape, but is easy to open so you can clean it.

Basket Infusers for Fuller Flavor

Basket infusers sit on the top of your cup and allow the tea leaves to fully expand and steep while remaining neatly contained. Because they’re completely open on one side, basket infusers are extremely easy to clean as you can easily get a brush inside.

Generally speaking, the larger the basket is, the better the flavor will be as the leaves will have more space to spread out and infuse their flavor. We would recommend looking at baskets that are over two inches wide and deep, but if you're infusing tea in a larger cup, such as a tumbler, you may want to look at infusers that are three inches deep instead.

As we just mentioned, the size of your cup is something that you have to take into account. Make sure the infuser isn't too wide for the opening of your cup or so narrow that it will fall in.

Some infusers may even have a narrow lip that sits neatly over the edge of a cup, which means that they can only be used with cups of a certain thickness. Other infusers ensure they're universal by having handles that allow them to be used on cups of all sizes.

When choosing a basket infuser, you should also try to look for one with a lid. This will prevent too much heat from escaping while your tea is brewing and help those high-heat teas achieve maximum deliciousness. Many lids also double as a rest to hold the infuser when the brewing time has elapsed.

Tea Sommelier and Blogger

Daniela Titiun

Consider Container and Infuser Combos That Can Multi-Task

If you want to make more than one serving at a time, a teapot is generally your best bet. The infuser that comes with a teapot will be a basket infuser that sits on the top of your pot and is removable for easy cleaning. With this, you can easily brew more than one cup of tea at a time.

Mugs that come with an infuser basket are some of the cutest things you can drink tea from. They often come as a set with a matching lid, which can also be used as a rest for the basket when the tea has finished brewing. Depending on the size of the mug, the infuser basket might also fit on your other mugs as well.

For those on the move, a tumbler with an infuser is an option. Tumblers tend to be tall and skinny, making it difficult to use traditional baskets as these are usually too wide and shallow to fit in the bottle. Submersion infusers can also be tricky unless they have a long enough chain. Included infuser baskets are made specifically for the tumbler, making for easy steeping and retrieval.

Tea Sommelier and Blogger

Daniela Titiun

Look for Features That Help You Use it Safely and Conveniently

The majority of the time, you will be infusing tea in very hot, if not boiling, water. This means it's important to be safe and ensure that your infuser isn't going to increase the risk of getting burned or scalded.

For submersion infusers, look for ones that have a chain or a handle that remains out of the hot water. These will make it easier to remove the infuser from your cup when it has finished brewing and is especially helpful with narrow and deep containers such as tumblers.

With baskets, you should choose ones that have a handle that extends past the edge of the cup. Again, this makes it easier to remove once the brewing has ended.

Remember that stainless steel conducts heat, so part of a basket or submersion infuser that doesn't touch the hot water is essential. Although this might still get a little warm, it's unlikely to get so hot that it will burn.

Although silicone doesn't conduct heat as strongly as stainless steel, it can still get hot. In fact, opening a silicone submersion infuser can be very dangerous because the heat will build up and get trapped inside. Leave anything made of silicone to cool down before touching it.

Something else that may come in useful is infusers that come with lids or trays to rest the infuser in once brewed. These make it easier to leave the infuser to cool before trying to empty or clean it as you can simply take the infuser out of the mug and rest it on the lid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions about tea infusers? Daniela is here to answer a commonly asked question on the Internet!

How do I brew loose leaf tea without an infuser?

Daniela says, "Honestly, if you don't have any tea-making tools and equipment on-hand, you can easily make loose leaf tea in a mason jar, a measuring glass, or any container that is heat-resistant. You can use loose leaves, steep them and then strain the tea from the mason jar with any kitchen strainer into mugs, cups, or pot."

Looking for Tea to Put in Your Tea Infuser?

Though you've picked out your tea infuser, you can't forget about the most important thing—the tea! There are plenty of types and brands to deliberate over, so if you need help finding the right one, check out our other articles.

10 Best Loose Leaf Teas in 2022 (Tea Sommelier-Reviewed)

10 Best Assam Teas in 2022 (Tea Sommelier-Reviewed)

10 Best Breakfast Teas in 2022

Amazon's Best Selling Tea Strainers and Filters

If you're still not sure which infuser to choose and want some more options, then here are the best-selling infusers and strainers on Amazon.

Amazon Best Sellers: Best Tea Strainers & Filters

In Collaboration With Tea Sommelier Daniela Titiun

Tea Sommelier and Blogger

Daniela Titiun

Updated by: Kellie Lacey, 11/26/2021

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Disclaimer

In order to provide as much accurate information as possible, in addition to asking an expert to review our buying guide, we referenced the following sources for information.

https://nbtea.co.uk/guides/choosing-an-infuser/

https://senchateabar.com/blogs/blog/tea-infuser

https://www.thespruceeats.com/best-tea-infusers-4164798