The Tea Detective
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea
Tea Tools and Accessories

The great thing about brewing tea is that it's a fairly simple process, yet it's also gratifying and     
 relaxing.  You don't need a whole lot of gadgets to brew a cup of tea.  But that's not to say         
 they aren't fun to use, and help simplify the process.
Other useful tea tools and accessories include:

Infuser Mugs
These are great for brewing a single cup of tea.  They are based on the Chinese covered
brewing cup, or guywan (or gaiwan).  They're large enough for the leaves to infuse properly,
giving you a perfect cup of tea.

The Basket Infuser
Just as its name says, it's a basket -- actually it's shaped like a small mesh barrel.  It comes in
two sizes and works great to keep the mess of the tea leaves in check.

Tea Press Pot With Plunger
The idea behind this pot is to isolate the leaves after the infusion (brewing is done).  Once the
tea reaches its desired strength, you depress the plunger, pressing the leaves to the bottom of
the pot with the strainer, removing any contact between the leaves and hot water.  This stops
the brewing at the exact perfect point, and removes the drippy mess by keeping the infuser
inside of the teapot.

Tea Caddies
These are used to store tea.  They come in all shapes and sizes, some decorative, others plain
glass jars.  The only thing to consider when buying a tea caddy, is that it's airtight, to keep the
tea as fresh and moisture free as possible.

Tea Cozies
Like a hot pad, the outer layers of the tea cozy are made from decorative cotton fabrics, with
several layers of cotton batting between, to provide insulation.  They fit over the top of your
teapot like a jacket to keep the tea nice and hot between servings.

Chinese Tea Bowls
These are basically small bowls without handles (called a gaiwan or guywan).  They are made
for brewing your tea right in the cup, and come with a lid to keep tea hot.

Japanese Tea Bowls
These look similar to the Chinese tea bowls, but have no warming lid.  You'll typically see them
in use in all types of Asian restaurants in the West.

Yixing Teapot & Traditional Teapots
The Yixing teapot is crafted from stoneware made from a special purple clay, believed to be
some of the best in the world for brewing tea.  Teapots come in all shapes and sizes, some
whimsical and fun, others plain and utilitarian.  

Tea Kettle
Last but not least, every tea brewer should invest in a good, heavy duty tea kettle in which to
boil water for tea.  The best in my opinion are enamel over steel, or stainless steel.  You should
never use aluminum kettles for boiling water.  Enjoy.  
The type of infuser you use depends upon how many cups of tea you're brewing at one time.  If
you're just brewing one cup for yourself, a tea ball or egg are fine.  But if you're brewing a full
pot of tea, you'll want a basket infuser that is larger, allowing the water to circulate freely among
the tea leaves.  
There are plenty of tea tools to choose from, some
because they're pretty or traditional, such as
decorative china teapots, or elaborate silver tea sets.  
And then there are the functional tools that help to
simplify or make tea brewing easier.

Some of the useful tools would include tea infusers,
which go by many different names, such as leaf
lockers, tea balls, tea eggs, or can be plain baskets or
sieves.

Infusers are basically strainers that hold the tea
leaves during brewing, and keep them out of your cup
when done.  When the infusion is complete, you just
remove the infuser and place it aside.
For more information or to learn more about tea, visit our other pages:

Learn where and how the beloved teapot began.
Nearly every home has a teapot - some that are used daily and some decorative.  Learn where and how
the beloved teapot of today began its journey centuries ago.

What are the main types of tea?
Learn about the six main types of tea, how they are produced, and the different processing methods
that distinguish them from one another. (Try Orange Blossom Oolong Tea from Silver Leaf Tea - Oolong
tea, orange peel, and orange flavor give this tea a fresh, satisfying citrus flavor that's good any time).

How do I choose the right tea for me?
Buying loose leaf tea for the first time can be confusing, but we've taken the work out of it for you.  
With lots of helpful tips and information, we've turned confusing into confident.

Flavored Teas - Everyone's Favorite
Satisfy your favorite cravings with a healthy, low calorie cup of tea.  Whether it's berries, citrus, or even
chocolate or caramel, your favorite flavor of tea is just waiting for you.

Scented teas are a fragrant and refreshing treat for the taste buds.
Having been perfected by the Chinese many centuries ago, these delicate, refreshing, and relaxing teas
are not only tasty, but sport many health benefits as well.

So who is Earl Grey, anyway?
Earl Grey is probably the most recognizable of blended teas, but there are many other tasty blends that
make the perfect beginning or finish to your day.

Organic teas aren't just good for you, but Mother Earth, too.
Learn how organic teas are grown, and how to ensure the tea you're buying is certified organic.

No time to brew-grab a glass of instant or bottle of ready to drink tea.
Following the creation of iced tea, it took nearly half a century for instant tea mix and bottled and
canned ready to drink teas to make their debut.  Now days they're easy to find in any number of flavors
and variations.

Tea bags - versatility, quality, and convenience all in one.
Learn the history behind the handy, versatile tea bag, and why it's no longer considered to be the poor
cousin of loose leaf tea.
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For a great selection of quality teas, gifts, and
accessories, visit:
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Receive A Guide To Tea, an 88-page book on the history and enjoyment of tea free with your first Adagio Teas order of $19 or more.
An easy-to-use ingenuiTEA teapot, whose ingenious design has been featured in The New York Times, Time Magazine and HGTV.
Gifts for lovers of tea with free wrapping of all items.