Strainers: materials, nuances of choice and features of care

A tea brewing strainer is an essential accessory for those who love tea drinking and tea ceremonies. Regardless of where the tea is brewed - in a teapot or cup - the strainer holds the tea leaves, making the drink much more pleasant to drink.

This product comes from the Middle Ages. It was invented in China. Over time, the tea strainer conquered all of Europe. In ancient times, such filters were made of steel, which is not subject to corrosion and plaque. These days they are made of plastic, stainless metal, silver and silicone. Brewing tea with such a product has become simple and convenient. In addition, preparing a drink with such an accessory can save tea leaves and time.

Now the market presents a variety of such accessories. In addition, such a filter can be used for coffee from the Turks. Coffee grounds are smaller in consistency than tea leaves. Hence, to filter coffee after brewing into a cup, you need a fine strainer.

Filter-strainers are also used when brewing herbal teas and infusions. For such drinks, you can take any product for filtration. Infusions of herbs most often have a large leaf. For these drinks, you can use those filters that are immersed in a mug. Drink should be allowed to infuse, and then pull out the strainer by the handle or chain.

The main features of a tea strainer for tea or coffee is that the material does not deform during long operation and is resistant to high temperatures. Also, all the materials from which this accessory is made are non-toxic, absolutely safe and do not emit harmful compounds in contact with boiling water.

Welding filters are divided into several types:

• open or closed;
• bucket for tea leaves;
• spring;
• brewing cup;
• standard filters.

Open are a small concave mesh. It can be with a handle for convenience or with another protrusion that clings either to the spout of the teapot or is put on a cup. With a strainer with a handle, you can very conveniently and quickly filter out small tea leaves from several mugs at once. This is the oldest method for brewing tea. It was used in ancient centuries.

Bucket Filter It is distinguished by its design and brings a touch of aristocracy to the tea ceremony. The product is attached to the spout of the teapot. You do not need to keep anything, which makes its use very convenient. But there are also disadvantages: the bucket must be cleaned often, because it is clogged with small gulls.

Another type of filter is spring for catching tea leaves. The upper end in the form of a small hook is hooked onto the spout of the teapot, the spring is lowered inside, where it straightens and takes the form of a net. This type of filtration is suitable for opaque dishes.

Glasses strainers come with some models of dummies. A teapot is poured into a glass, put in a teapot, and after that it is necessary to cover the teapot with something dense so that the drink is infused. After that they pull out a glass and enjoy a beautiful and transparent drink. Such products are made of silver, aluminum or stainless metal.

The above filters are open. Closed filters are also classified into several subspecies.

• Chain brewing strainer - a small, most often silver ball, on a chain. At the end of this chain is a counterweight that, when brewed, hangs from the cup and prevents the ball from falling into the drink. When the tea is infused, the ball is pulled out, pulling the chain. Such accessories are not only made of silver, stainless steel and other alloys are also used for manufacturing.
• Float filter - Another type of closed tea strainers. The sieve float is on the surface and does not sink. Once the tea has reached the desired strength in color, the product is pulled out by the handle, which is at the end in the form of a fishing rod.
• A sieve in the form of clothespins. Such a sieve is worn on a cup or other utensils. The part that is immersed in water is made in the form of various shapes with holes. Such models are most often plastic. Particularly popular filters in the form of animals and fruits.
• A filter spoon or filter press looks like tongs. Pressing a double handle or button opens the filter, thereby cleaning it from the tea leaves is not difficult. Such tongs are very practical. If you have to pour tea leaves into different filters with a separate spoon, then with such a strainer you can take tea directly from the can. In some trim levels, a spoon stand comes with this accessory. This addition simplifies use and avoids traces of tea on the table surface. Spoons are made of silver. Some models depict beautiful drawings and patterns, which makes this product externally more aesthetic.
• Tea strainer with kettle. This fashion accessory comes from France. Such filters have a high service life. They are made of steel or plastic and are easy to operate. There is a handle on the lid of the kettle. When pressed, the press presses the leaves of the tea leaves. At the same time, you can tilt the dishes and not be afraid that the tea leaves will slip into the drink.

Finally, standard types of strainers are in demand by many buyers. They are easy to use, have a minimalist design and reasonable cost.These are the most common filters of different sizes, with or without handles. Such items can be worn on the spout of the kettle. Some can be used to filter the infusion through the sieve itself into a cup or other utensil.

There are also simple tongs for brewing tea. Outwardly they are similar to a nut. The product consists of two half-spoons, which when closed look like a nut. These are put on a cup or spout of a teapot.

There are a lot of types and forms of tea filters. Some manufacturers make small strainers in the form of various cartoon characters. Egg shapes are also very popular. The upper part is made in the form of fruits or animals, and the lower, which is immersed in a cup, has an ovoid shape with holes.

Infuser filters in the form of dolls, swans, bears, cats, snakes, smiling strawberries are suitable not only for children but also for adults. Such bright and funny accessories cheer up and make the tea drinking process more interesting. These cute products are not only made of silicone or steel.

Now many companies produce tea strainers from silver, gold, bronze and even platinum. And the colorful color palette makes the filters a great gift for everyone. You can pick up a beautiful tea pair with a strainer, and such a cute sign of attention will cheer up adults, children, grandparents.

A wide assortment of strainers is presented. They are made from various materials, but silver is the most useful. Tea using a silver filter keychain acquires an exquisite taste.

The strainers are without a handle or with a handle. Instead of a handle, there may be a small protrusion at the end of the product, which clings to the edge of the mug. All products are made of materials that are not oxidized and resistant to high temperatures, so do not be afraid that the handle or protrusion will melt upon contact with a hot cup.

When choosing a good, high-quality product, you should pay attention to several aspects in this matter. First of all, it is worth determining the tightness of the product. The distance between parts should be kept to a minimum. If the filter is not tight, you will have to catch small tea leaves from the cup. The simplicity of the filter also plays a big role. You should choose a product where the cap closes or is put on. Interesting designs are quickly losing interest and will take longer to use.

The strainers have sufficiently reliable fasteners. But you still need to make sure of this and check all the details of the mechanism so that at the most inopportune moment the handle or protrusion does not drown in the cup with the drink.

Any dishes need care. Upon contact with tea or coffee, the strainer may darken, in some places a coating may appear, which gives the product an untidy appearance. And brewing tea will no longer be such an aesthetic ceremony. To clean a small sieve for tea, you will need:

• Toothbrush;
• 100 ml of water;
• ammonia (2 tablespoons).

First you need to mix water with ammonia. Then lower the strainer into a container of water and ammonia. You can hold the product from 3 hours to 12 hours, depending on the degree of plaque. Then, clean the filter with a toothbrush and rinse well with water.

There is another way to care for this accessory. With the help of citric acid they clean teapots, dishes made of copper and various alloys, and clean off plaque. To remove plaque from the filter with citric acid, pour two glasses of water into the container with the addition of two teaspoons of citric acid. In such a solution, it is necessary to lower the strainer and hold there for some time. After this, the solution together with the filter can be boiled. This will speed up the result. A soda solution is also suitable for cleaning these products.

Nowadays, the use of tea leaves for tea is not only funny, but also stylish. You can make tea without a strainer, but it is not so convenient.

There are many varieties of tea - from small to large, which require a maximum degree of brewing over time. If the tea leaves fall into the drink, this makes the process of drinking tea not so pleasant.

Such an accessory is also suitable as a gift. Those who are fond of tea ceremonies, and those who like to drink tea in company or enjoy a drink alone, a strainer filter will appeal to you. In the manufacture of these filters, high-quality stainless metal and food grade plastic are used.

In the next video you will find unusual silicone tea strainers.