Tea Strainer

Tea Strainer

Directions: Open the strainer by the clasp and fill it with your favourite loose tea. Each tea has its individual amount of tea, close and immerse into boiling water leaving the chain to hang freely on the outside of the cup. Once infused, remove the strainer and discard the used tea leaves. Clean and ready for subsequent use.

Tea strainers date back to ancient China with the first models being made of bamboo. Literature from the Tang dynasty described such strainers being used by monks, not to separate the tea leaves from the brew, but to keep bugs out of drinking water. Later on, strainers would be made from many materials including stainless steel, china, porcelain, silicon and finally linen. Using the tea strainer to keep tea leaves out of your beverage came around in the 17^th century, out of China, when tea was more readily available and the British royals favoured the drink. A cup of tea full of tea leaves wasn’t going to cut it, using the strainer would keep the beverage clear and stop the bitter leaves getting caught in the mouth. In the 19^th century, big names such as Tiffany and Gorham produced good quality silver strainers, but would only be available to those who could afford such a luxurious utensil.

Thomas Sullivan, a tea merchant, shipped out samples of tea into small silk bags. Consumers didn’t understand they were meant to discard the bag and use the tea leaves accordingly and so, they boiled the water and brewed the tea in the bag. This became a cost-effective way of straining tea and the invention of the tea bag was born. The tea bag became the most popular way to enjoy a cup of tea but in recent years many people are doing a U-turn and deciding to opt for more reusable and sustainable solutions to tea bags. Strainers have become popular again, ranging in quirky shapes and materials.

People have become aware of the chemicals used to make mainstream teabags and how long they degrade. A strainer can be used over and over, producing loads of cups of tea without filling your bin.

Tea leaves and your garden

Not only are our tea blends fragrant and flavoursome but even after the tea has been brewed it still has its uses. The used loose tea can be buried into the flower beds as a natural insect repellent warding off those annoying pests. It is also a natural fertiliser, and can also improve drainage to your plants. Used tea could also help your indoor plants sprinkling some over-the-top soil can prevent fungal growth and provide nutrients to the soil.