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Atea strainer is a type ofstrainer that is placed over or in ateacup to catch loosetea leaves. Despite the invention of thetea bag, it continues to be used widely as of 2026.
Whentea is brewed in thetraditional manner in ateapot, the tea leaves are not contained inteabags; rather, they are freely suspended in the water. As the leaves themselves are not consumed with the tea, it is usual tofilter them out with a tea strainer. Strainers usually fit into the top of the cup to catch the leaves as the tea is poured.
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. It is 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.
Despite the fact that tea strainer use has declined in the 20th century with mass production of thetea bag, it is still preferred among connoisseurs, who claim that keeping the leaves packed in a bag, rather than freely circulating, inhibits diffusion. Many assert that inferior ingredients, namelydust-quality tea, are often used in tea bags.
Tea strainers are usually eithersterling silver,stainless steel, orchina. Strainers often come in a set, with the strainer itself and a small saucer for it to rest on between cups. Tea strainers themselves have often been turned into artistic masterpieces of thesilver- andgoldsmith's craft, as well as rarer specimens of fineporcelain.
Brewing baskets (orinfusing baskets) resemble tea strainers, but are more typically put in the top of a teapot to keep the tea leaves contained during brewing. There is no definitive boundary between a brewing basket and a tea strainer, and the same tool might be used for both purposes.
Tea strainers may also be used for separating milk solids fromghee.[1] A further use is to separate the liquid from the solid when preparingBéarnaise sauce.
Tea strainers or a similar smallsieve may also be used by patients trying to pass akidney stone.[2] The patient urinates through the strainer, thereby ensuring that, if a stone is passed, it will be caught for evaluation and diagnosis.
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