I honestly can't imagine why someone would not like (if not love) this tea ball infuser. It's easy to clean, easy to fill, and works great! I drink tea all the time and it is my favorite way to drink loose leaf tea.
I'm a field hand and a dairy farmer who loves video games and the taste of a nice pinot noir. After working a long day at a Petaluma ranch, I need a hot and soothing drink to help me relax. This is where my new OXO BREW Twisting Tea Ball Infuser comes in and plays a vital role in my daily routine. I fill the ball with my favorite organic loose leaf tea, heat my filtered water to the optimal temperature (more on that below) and pour myself a delicious cup of organic hot tea. Perfection.
I sometimes will brew caffeinated tea (like black or green tea) in the afternoons to give me that final boost to get through the rest of the Petaluma day, then brew non-caffeinated herbal tea in the evening to unwind right before I get in my comfy Petaluma bed. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that my love of wine is only rivaled by my love of a good organic loose leaf tea.
And drinking loose leaf is key.
“Loose-leaf tea” means tea that’s primarily made up of whole, unbroken leaves. Teabags are usually made from the opposite – low tea grades, such as dust and fannings. Dust and fannings are smaller pieces of tea, so they have a larger surface area than whole leaves. A larger surface area means more opportunities for the essential oils (what makes tea flavorful and aromatic) to evaporate, leaving the tea dull and stale. Freshness can be a major issue with typical teabags for this reason, especially if they are packed in a paper box with paper wrapping.
When you steep loose-leaf tea, it has (or should have) room for tea leaves to absorb water and expand as they infuse. This allows the water to flow through the leaves and extract a wide range of vitamins, minerals, flavors, and aromas from the leaves. When you steep tea in a teabag, its infusion is limited by the size of the teabag. Not great.
Also, temperature is crucial!
Most of us in the western world are brought up thinking that all we need to do to make a cup of tea is heat water, add tea, wait a few minutes, then drink it. Although this is basically true, paying attention to the water temperature will help get the best flavor from your tea. Chances are you’ve wondered why your tea doesn’t always taste great or doesn't even taste the same from day to day. While this could be caused by several factors, water temperature is an important one to consider.
Every type of tea has a “right” temperature. When tea is brewed, tannins, amino acids, aroma and flavor compounds are released from the leaves. Some kinds of tea require less heat, while others need more to maximize their distinctive attributes. Brewing at the optimal water temperature for each kind of tea allows the compounds to be released in a balanced way and leads to great tasting tea. Water temperatures that are too hot dissolve tannins and destroy the other desirable compounds in tea. Thermal shock from overly hot water can also burn sensitive tea leaves. The result will be a bitter, astringent, and unbalanced brew. At the opposite end of the spectrum, you also don’t want the water temperature for brewing tea to be too cool. The same compounds that are destroyed with over-heated water won't dissolve properly in under-heated water. The finished tea will definitely lack balance and simply won't have as much taste. A longer steeping time may compensate, but only a bit.
Here are some general guidelines for the different categories of tea.
White teas: 160–185°F (71–85°C)
Yellow teas: 175°F (79°C)
Green teas: 140–190°F (60–88°C)
Oolong teas: 180–200°F (82–93°C)
Black teas: 190–200°F (88–93°C)
Pu'er teas: 200–212°F (93–100°C)
Rolled oolongs and other teas in pearl form are notable exceptions to the guidelines. These not only withstand, but are best when brewed in water near boiling. For these, more heat is required to slowly unfurl the leaves and release their distinctive aroma and flavor compounds.
You’ve probably heard the expression “a watched pot never boils.” Well, in order to judge the temperature of the water for tea using your ears and eyes, you have to watch the pot—and certainly remember to never boil the water. So maybe the adage should be changed to “watch the pot so it never boils.”
When using your senses to gauge the temperature, you’ll need to pay attention to the bubbles and steam rising from the water while listening for different sounds. These change during three different stages of heating water. If using a saucepan you’ll be able to see as well as hear the changes. If you’re using a kettle then you’ll need to rely mostly on sound, although you might also see some steam escaping through the spout.
But I digress.
Whether you're a field hand and dairy farmer in Petaluma, or a big shot corporate suit from San Francisco, this tea ball infuser is a MUST for your tea drinking needs.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
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Customer Review: Sturdy and worth your money, indeed.
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The only tea ball you will use going forward
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Compare with similar items
This Item  OXO BREW Twisting Tea Ball Infuser |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $11.95 | $12.99 | -13% $6.99 List: $7.99 | $16.99 | $21.99 | $9.99 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 15 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 15 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Easy to use | ||||||
| Easy to clean | ||||||
| Giftable | ||||||
| Sold By | Amazon.com | Capiant | mainsbbh | ZSXGZL | ZSXGZL | redrose.map |
| size | 1 Count | — | Normal | — | — | Long Handle Tea Ball x 1 |
| material | Stainless Steel | stainless steels | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| number of items | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| shape | Round | Round | Round | Round | Round | Long Handle |
| dishwasher safe | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
Reviews with images
OXO...brilliant design yet again
As an official tea snob, I have so many tea infusers, this one is by far my favorite. Worth the price for sure. Here's the best parts about it; 1) it makes a very satisfying click when you rotate the handle to open the ball (you will know what I mean when you get one!) 2) It's just the right size 3) The holes are small enough to keep almost all of the tiny particles from escaping 4) Loaded, it sits nicely on the edge of the counter after using without falling into the sink (I prefer to clean infusers after I drink my hot tea) 5) It is very easy to clean 6) The ball is large enough to allow flow of water inside to steep tea, but small enough to fit inside smaller-mouth cups. TBH though, #1 is my favorite part about this product, strange to admit!
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2020
Color: MetalSize: 1 CountPattern Name: Ball InfuserVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2024
Color: MetalSize: 1 CountPattern Name: Ball InfuserVerified Purchase
As an official tea snob, I have so many tea infusers, this one is by far my favorite. Worth the price for sure. Here's the best parts about it; 1) it makes a very satisfying click when you rotate the handle to open the ball (you will know what I mean when you get one!) 2) It's just the right size 3) The holes are small enough to keep almost all of the tiny particles from escaping 4) Loaded, it sits nicely on the edge of the counter after using without falling into the sink (I prefer to clean infusers after I drink my hot tea) 5) It is very easy to clean 6) The ball is large enough to allow flow of water inside to steep tea, but small enough to fit inside smaller-mouth cups. TBH though, #1 is my favorite part about this product, strange to admit!
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2024
Color: MetalSize: 1 CountPattern Name: Ball InfuserVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024
Color: MetalSize: 1 CountPattern Name: Ball InfuserVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2024
Color: MetalSize: 1 CountPattern Name: Ball InfuserVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2024
Color: MetalSize: 1 CountPattern Name: Ball InfuserVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2024
Color: MetalSize: 1 CountPattern Name: Ball InfuserVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2024
Color: MetalSize: 1 CountPattern Name: Ball InfuserVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Bianca G.
Wonderful product!
Reviewed in Canada on March 23, 2024Color: MetalSize: 1 CountPattern Name: Ball InfuserVerified Purchase
Bianca G.
Reviewed in Canada on March 23, 2024
Images in this review
Kawita
Loose tea finally accessible
Reviewed in the Netherlands on March 17, 2024Color: MetalSize: 1 CountPattern Name: Ball InfuserVerified Purchase
Stefano
Fantastico
Reviewed in Italy on February 26, 2024Color: MetalSize: 1 CountPattern Name: Ball InfuserVerified Purchase
James
Amazing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 4, 2023Color: MetalSize: 1 CountPattern Name: Ball InfuserVerified Purchase
Fernando
Buen producto.
Reviewed in Spain on July 30, 2022Color: MetalSize: 1 CountPattern Name: Ball InfuserVerified Purchase
