Tea strainers are used to filter loose tea leaves from brewed tea, as the leaves themselves may be distasteful. A tea strainer fits over or inside a teacup to catch leaves when pouring tea that has been brewed in a teapot without a teabag. Some deeper tea strainers can also brew individual cups of tea by placing the strainer filled with leaves directly in a cup, and removing it along with the spent leaves once brewed to allow the same leaves to brew multiple cups.

1. Tea strainers are
used to catch the
loose leaves
when you pour
out the tea.

2. A tea strainer is a type of When tea is brewed in
strainer that is placed over or in the traditional manner in
a teacup a teapot, the tea leaves
to catch tea leaves are not contained in
teabags, but rather are
freely suspended in the
water.

3. As the leaves
themselves may be
distasteful, it is usual to
filter them out with a
tea strainer. Strainers
usually fit into the top
of the cup to catch the
leaves as the tea is
poured.

4. Some deeper tea strainers can also be used to brew single cups of
tea, much as teabags or brewing baskets are used - the strainer full
of leaves is set in a cup to brew the tea, and then removed, along
with the spent tea leaves, when the tea is ready to drink. By using a
tea strainer in this way, the same leaves can be used to brew
multiple cups.