The tea strainer has been around for centuries. Since ancient times, the shape has been improved, new models have appeared, but the main purpose of the item has remained. It prevents tea leaves from getting into the cup from the teapot.
Content
- Advantages of tea strainers
- When was calico invented for tea?
- Technology of production of tea strainers
- What materials are tea strainers made of?
- What shapes does a tea strainer come in?
- Types of open and closed strainers
- The nuances of making tea with a strainer
- Selecting quality tea chintz
- The best tea strainer models
- VIDEO: Unusual silicone tea strainers.
Advantages of tea strainers
The main function of chintz is to protect dishes from tea leaves. Even a few can ruin the tea drinking process. However, the item has other advantages:
- Saving time when preparing a drink. Using a mesh, you can immediately pour boiling water into a mug, bypassing the brewing stage in a classic teapot.
- You can control the strength of the tea and add the amount of tea leaves you need.
- Always a fresh drink. Every time you drink freshly prepared tea.
- The drink fully reveals its taste, since it is brewed as long as necessary. When tea leaves remain in the teapot for a long time, bitterness may appear.
When was calico invented for tea?
The Chinese were the first to invent a tea accessory. It was from there that the drink spread throughout the world. The strainer for brewing was also invented in China. The glass is inserted directly into the teapot, and then hot water is poured in. Then the tea leaves are infused, after which they are squeezed a little to fully reveal the taste. This is a classic way of preparing the drink among the Chinese, and later it began to be used all over the world. Residents of different countries improved and changed the design in accordance with their own preferences.
Technology of production of tea strainers
The method of producing the mesh depends on the material it is made of. There are molds for casting the metal frame.
What materials are tea strainers made of?
Stainless steel or silver are considered classic materials for the production of tea accessories. However, models that use other bases are also popular:
- Aluminum. Mesh made from it is inexpensive, although it will not last long. The metal is soft and quickly deforms.
- Steel. It has a longer period of use. It is a durable metal that does not lose its attractiveness. However, steel must be food grade.
- Ceramics. The advantage is that the material does not affect the taste of the drink. In addition, the strainer usually matches well with the rest of the dishes.
- Food grade plastic. Experts do not recommend using it, as the material can change the taste. Otherwise, it must be of very high quality.
- Silicone. A tea strainer can be made of silicone, as it will last a long time and will not affect the aroma and taste.
What shapes does a tea strainer come in?
There are two main types of filters - open and closed. Open strainers are a small bowl (usually with a handle) where tea leaves are poured and boiling water is added. There are many more closed models. They completely hide the tea leaves and are most often immersed in the liquid at the bottom of the cup.
Types of open and closed strainers
The classic accessory has undergone many changes. Today, there are standard open strainers with a bowl for brewing. They can be with or without a stand, with a handle, or made in the form of a float that stays on the surface. In addition, there are models designed for a regular cup or mug, and there are varieties that are inserted into a teapot.
With a handle
This is a standard filter that allows you to quickly remove tea leaves. It can be used to prepare a drink for several people. The concave sieve is attached to the handle. When tea is poured, it is above the mug and filters the liquid. There are models made of stainless steel, but you can also buy ones made of silver. The inconvenience is that you need to hold not only the teapot, but also the sieve itself, filtering the tea leaves through it.
Filter bucket
This model has a more convenient design. It is made in the form of a bucket. It is fixed on the spout of the teapot. The convenience is that you do not need to additionally hold the accessory at the moment when the liquid is poured into cups. But there is a drawback - to clean the tea leaves, the bucket will need to be constantly removed.
In most cases, such chintz is made in the form of decorative items, so it will appeal to people who appreciate the aesthetic side of tea drinking.
Spring for catching tea leaves
This variety is usually sold complete with a teapot for brewing. The spring is fixed in the spout itself, from the inside. When the drink is poured into mugs, the tea leaves remain at its base, on the filter.
Teapot
A cup is a small container (usually metal) that is suspended. Depending on the model, it can be placed on the spout of a teapot or inserted directly into a cup, where it is held in place by the edges.
There are holes inside the cup. But they are small in diameter so that the tea leaves do not get into the cup. Tea is poured into the container, the lid is closed and hot water is poured in.
Please note! Often these cups are sold together with a teapot. The main material for production is metal (stainless steel). Less often they are made of food-grade silicone.
Closed calico on a chain
This variety is made in the form of a small ball, into which the tea leaves are poured. There is a latch, which is closed before the strainer is immersed in boiling water. The ball has a chain, by which it is hung on the edge of the glass, and then pulled out. All the tea leaves remain inside, since the holes are very small.
Usually the balls are made of metal (stainless steel) and can have different designs. However, sometimes similar models are silicone. In this case, they can be made in the form of fruits or other objects. The advantage is that no extraneous sounds will be heard, as can happen when using a metal ball with a chain. This can be important for people who work in an office. In addition, some parts of a metal product may fall off if they are not made very well.
Strainer-float
Fishermen will appreciate this chintz, as it resembles a classic float. The peculiarity of the item is that it does not sink, but partially remains on the surface (like a float). In most cases, the base is made of metal, and the handle is made of silicone. But the product can also be completely silicone.
The float can be pulled out by the handle (usually in the form of a fishing rod) after the drink has reached the desired concentration. There are also models of the strainer with a tea stand. In this case, the handle is attached to the hole, so the filter can be used to brew a drink in a teapot.
Please note! The first time you use it, you may accidentally flood the chintz and burn your fingers. Therefore, you need to practice beforehand.
Clothespin for a mug
These strainers are often made in the shape of animals, people or fruits. They are a decorative item that is attached to the rim of a cup. The part where the tea leaves are poured is under water, and the rest is on top.
The fixation is tight, so you should not be afraid that you will have to fish out the sunken product with a spoon. No additional manipulations are required. Tea is poured into the clothespin, placed on a mug and filled with hot water. There is a small drawback - the size may not match a specific glass. Such a device cannot be used for a teapot either.
Tea tongs
This model is partly similar to the calico on a chain. It is also a ball that connects into a single whole from two hemispheres. But, unlike the accessory on a chain, it has a handle in the form of pliers. The convenience is that a person will not stain or wet his hands during use. To open the calico, you will need to press the handle (or the button, if provided).
To fill the filter, you don't need any additional items. You can scoop up the tea leaves directly with the tongs, as they have a hard handle. Then you just need to bring the hemispheres together and place them in a mug, brewing with boiling water. You can also use the tongs as a spoon and stir the sugar with it while the drink is brewing.
The main material used for the product is stainless steel. It preserves the taste of tea and will last a long time. Silver is not used because it is a softer metal. It is difficult to give it the necessary rigidity and fixation. Sometimes flexible tongs are made of silicone. In this case, they are fixed with a lid on the teapot.
Sieve press
A type of chintz was invented in France. The model is a small teapot (average volume 200 ml), inside of which there is a press and small holes. The material of manufacture is plastic or stainless steel. The body is glass in most cases.
The tea leaves are poured into the glass, boiling water is added and it is left to brew for a certain time. After the drink has reached the desired concentration, the press is pressed and the tea leaves are squeezed out, pressing them to the bottom. Then the tea is poured into the cup. If the glass is large, it can be used for tea drinking by several people.
After this, the press is removed along with the lid, the tea leaves are removed and the item is washed.
The nuances of making tea with a strainer
There is nothing complicated in using a tea sieve. Tea is brewed using the classic method. To do this, follow these instructions:
- Pour the tea leaves into a sieve at a rate of 1 teaspoon per glass of water (200 ml). Large-leaf tea is always poured a little more.
- Boil water (it is best to use filtered water) and let it cool to the desired temperature. Remember that different types of tea need to be brewed at different temperatures.
- Rinse the mug (or teapot) with boiling water to warm the walls a little.
- Place the chintz in a container, fill it with hot water and let it steep until the desired concentration is reached.
- Remove the filter and enjoy your tea.
Selecting quality tea chintz
You need to choose a model depending on your own preferences. But there are several important points to pay attention to when buying:
- Tightness. The product must be made without any remarks. If the body lets tea leaves through, the drink will have to be additionally filtered from them in the future. Gaps between parts must be completely invisible.
- The design should be extremely simple. Since you will be using the item every day, you should not choose complex products that are difficult to screw together or have many parts.
- Ease of use. Ideally, you should not come into contact with a wet surface during use. To avoid burning your hands, buy calico with handles, chains, etc.
- Fasteners. It is best if the filter does not have them. In this case, there is no risk of accidental breakage.
- The size of the holes in the body. This determines whether the strainer will let the tea leaves through. But the holes should not be too small, otherwise the preparation of the drink will take a long time.
- Material. Metal products last a long time, but can oxidize. Silicone is also durable. But it must be of high quality so that there are no foreign odors.
- Further care. The simpler the design, the faster you will wash it after use. Complex bodies with many parts will complicate the process of removing tea leaves and subsequent cleaning of the dishes.
The best tea strainer models
The choice of the best strainer is determined only by personal preferences. It is also important to consider the purpose of use. If you need to brew tea in a mug, then small closed accessories (for example, on a chain) will do. For teapots, it is better to choose models designed specifically for them. In addition, you can buy several filters for different occasions and alternate them.
The modern market offers dozens of varieties of strainers. It is convenient to use small models designed for one person. Such filters can be used in the office, so as not to brew and then not wash the whole teapot. In addition, each time you will drink a fresh drink that will retain its taste and aroma.
