Q: Members of my family are all avid tea drinkers, especially at breakfast. My mom likes to brew loose tea in a thermal carafe and bring it to the table for everyone. The trouble is, the loose tea keeps getting stuck in the pour holes and makes a mess.
Do you or your readers know of any thermal teapots that solve this problem?
Sent by Bengi
Editor: Bengi, I don't have any thermal teapots to recommend, but I do have a few other options to consider:
• Good Product: Kaiser Alfi Modern Classic Carafe - This is the carafe I currently use, and I love it. Perhaps your mother can just brew the tea in a regular teapot then transfer it to a carafe like this one to keep it warm?
• BonJour's Insulated Rhône French Press - You could also use a French press, like this one, which is insulated, and press the leaves down and out of the way when the tea has finished steeping.
• Adagio Teas' TriniTEA Tea Maker - Here's one other product I love — an automated tea maker that keeps the tea warm for you.
Readers, any better recommendations or ideas for Bengi?
Related: Looking For: Reliable and Classy Thermal Carafe
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Why not buy a separate tea ball or infuser to place in the pot? You can keep the carafe closed and hot while its steeping and then open it to fish it out when its done.
The tea won't be too strong and no leaves will get stuck.
Here are a bunch of pot-sized infusers: Google shopping results for "large tea ball"
another vote for a big tea ball, I use one to make iced tea from loose leaves in a pitcher, works well.
Or you can serve tea the Russian way. Brew the leaves in a small pot (those usually have built-in strainers in the spout) to get a tea concentrate and bring that to the table along with the carafe of hot water and everyone makes their own cup to the strength they want.
This is a link to my favorite: http://www.superprod.com/product/-stainless-steel-server-.6-liter--2820-oz.-29.do?keyword=stainless+steel+thermal+carafe&sortby=bestSellers
It's a bit expensive but kept my tea hot for a very long time.
what about this one? it's got a cool little insert so your tea leaves won't get stuck, and it's inexpensive!
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90150071
I agree with Emily R! I have a teapot like that that I purchased at an Asian grocery near by for about 5 bucks. Very easy to clean and brews some great cups of tea. I gave one with some loose leaf tea as a gift for staying at someone's house and it was a huge hit.
I have the Alfi pictured above and it is truly amazing. It keep things hot for hours (seriously). I got mine on ebay brand new for $4!
Brew tea in a normal teapot, then pour it off into the termal carafe.
One should never leave the leaves in the pot the whole time, it gets all tannic and awful.
I think one of those cast iron enamel teapots with the stainless steel insert would keep tea hot for a long time.
Similar to the Alfi is the Magnussen thermal carafe, with has an optional tea strainer insert (at the bottom of the link below).
Does anyone know how long the alfi or Magnussen can keep liquids hot?
http://www.unicahome.com/p62906/stelton/tea-strainer-with-stand-for-magnussen-1l-carafe-by-stelton.html