A tea strainer (or tea filter) is a small mesh sieve you rest over your cup or serving pitcher when pouring loose leaf tea, so the leaves and any fine particles stay out of your cup. It is one of the most useful pieces of teaware for anyone who brews loose leaf tea — in a teapot, a gaiwan or a fairness cup — and wants a clean, clear brew without bits floating on top. Unlike a tea infuser, which holds the leaves inside the pot as they steep, a strainer simply catches them at the moment you pour.

Our tea strainers come in a few styles.Ceramic strainer-and-holder sets in De Hua white porcelain are made for gongfu brewing — the strainer rests neatly on its own matching holder between pours, so nothing drips on the table, and they look elegant on a tea tray. These come with fine food-grade nylon mesh or stainless steel mesh, both fine enough to catch micro-particles. A simple stainless steel tea strainer is the practical, everyday choice — light, hard-wearing and easy to rinse. All of them do the same essential job: a clean cup, every pour.

Think about how you brew. If you pour gongfu-style from a teapot or gaiwan into a fairness cup, a ceramic strainer with a holder is elegant and practical. If you just want to catch leaves on the way into a mug, a stainless steel strainer is quick and hard-wearing. A finer mesh (nylon or fine steel) catches more of the tiny particles that broken or small-leaf teas release; for large whole-leaf teas, any mesh will do the job.

Brew your loose leaf tea in a teapot or gaiwan as usual. When you pour, rest the strainer over your cup or fairness cup so the tea passes through the mesh and the leaves stay behind. After use, tip out the leaves and rinse the mesh under hot water so it stays clear — no soap needed. Set a ceramic strainer back on its holder to dry.

What is the difference between a tea strainer and a tea infuser?

A tea strainer catches the leaves as you pour, sitting over your cup or pitcher. A tea infuser holds the leaves inside the pot or cup while they steep, then lifts out. For gongfu brewing, where leaves steep loose in the pot, a strainer is the usual choice.

What mesh is best for a tea strainer?

Fine food-grade nylon or fine stainless steel mesh both catch micro-particles well. Finer mesh is better for broken or small-leaf teas; for large whole-leaf teas, a standard mesh is plenty.

How do I clean a tea strainer?

Tip out the used leaves and rinse the mesh under hot water after each use — no soap needed. Let it air-dry, resting a ceramic strainer on its holder.

Do you ship across Australia?

Yes — every tea strainer is dispatched from Sydney and ships across Australia. Orders over $100 ship free.