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The 10 best tea strainers to buy in the UK

Picture of a tea strainer

The best tea strainers are a great buy for anyone who enjoys a freshly brewed cup of tea made from loose tea leaves. Loose tea leaves provide a much stronger, flavourful beverage, while also lacking additives found in some highly processed foods, in particular tea bags. So, if you want to brew tea leaves in a teapot, then you’ll need a good tea strainer. Check out some tips below for how to find the best tea strainer for your needs.

What are tea strainers?

A tea strainer is a small sieve that sits on top of a cup to catch loose tea leaves. Traditional tea is prepared in a large teapot, where the tea leaves sit loosely rather than inside a teabag. These leaves aren’t drunk with the tea, however, so need to be strained before consuming. The best tea strainers fit perfectly inside of a teacup, catching all the loose leaves to avoid them falling into the drink.

Why should you buy a good tea strainer?

A great tea strainer is highly recommended if you love drinking tea. While teabags can’t hit the spot, there’s nothing that quite compares to the robust flavour of freshly brewed tea leaves. For example, the classic tea brewing method, where you put loose leaves inside of a teapot with water, has a much stronger flavour compared to teabags. Tea produced from loose leaves is also much fresher and generally higher quality compared to teabags, making it a great choice for any tea lover. Plus, loose tea doesn’t include additives commonly found in processed foods, especially tea bags of cheaper brands found in supermarkets.

Further, there’s less packaging on loose tea leaves, so it’s generally a more sustainable product than teabags. Overall, there are many reasons to buy the best tea strainer while the better flavour from loose tea (e.g., various green teas, black teas, and fruit teas) is often considered as the most important aspect.

How to choose the right tea strainer in 2024?

Another picture of a tea strainer

Not sure where to find the best tea strainers for preparing loose tea? Here are some tips for how to find the right model:

  • Strainer Size: Tea strainers sit on top of a cup to catch any loose tea leaves, so you need to ensure it’s the right size for your cups. Anything too small won’t sit inside the cup properly and catch all the loose tea leaves. Also, anything too big might cause tea to spill outside the cup. So, make sure you choose a quality tea strainer that is the same size as your teacups. You might need to measure the rim of the cup to help find the right size of tea strainer.
  • Materials: Tea strainers are typically made from metals, with stainless steel considered the best option for most people. Stainless steel is strong and durable while being easy to clean. Also, some tea strainers include plastic-coated handles for heat protection. A silicone handle is a great way to keep your strainer cool while preparing your drink.
  • Hole Size: Be sure to check the size of the holes of a tea strainer to ensure they’re the right fit for your tea leaves. Smaller holes are great for capturing all loose tea, including leaves that are of smaller size. In general, be mindful of holes that are too large as some smaller tea leaves may pass through.

What is the best kind of tea strainer in the UK?

Are you looking for the most popular tea strainer to make a pleasant cup of tea? Then, here are some of the best-selling types of tea strainers available to buy:

  • Metal Tea Strainers: The best tea strainers are made from metals, such as stainless steel or brass. Modern tea strainers are typically stainless steel with a fine mesh sieve, while brass strainers offer a more traditional aesthetic.
  • Ceramic Tea Strainers: Ceramic tea strainers are often handmade, featuring beautiful designs and colours, making them a great gift. They’re also surprisingly easy to clean, being dishwasher safe, although are prone to breaking if dropped.

Top 10 list of tea strainers in the UK (2024)

The bestseller list compares brands and their tea strainers. Which tea strainer is the best?
Best choice TOP 1
Image of Sunnex 11109 tea strainer
Sunnex 11109 S/ST Tea Strainer and Bowl, 2" Wide x 5 1/2"…
  • Good product with excellent quality
  • Value for money
  • TEA_INFUSER
BUY NOW
TOP 2
Image of HAUSPROFI Q-3S-053-1 tea strainer
HAUSPROFI Tea Infuser, 304 Stainless Steel Tea Strainer with Lid and…
  • EASY TO CLEAN AND 100% GUARANTEE: Easy to clean and dishwasher safe. If have any…
  • EXTRA FINE MESH: Say goodbye to debris floating around in your tea. With the fine…
  • DUAL-PURPOSE LID AND TRAY: The lid keeps the steeping flavor from evaporating and…
BUY NOW
Offer TOP 3
Image of THE BELL XYZ tea strainer
Tea Strainer Fine Mesh Sieve (7cm 8cm 10cm) Size Stainless Steel with…
  • INCLUDES: Stainless Steel Tea Strainer Contain Pack Of 3 Fine Mesh Strainers Are…
  • STAINLESS STEEL STRAINER SET: Strainers Set Is Ideal Tool Used For Home Office Hotels…
  • SAFE AND CLEANS EASILY: Tea Strainers Are Safe Strong And Sturdy Sieves They Are…
BUY NOW
TOP 4
Image of MEANTOBE  tea strainer
3 Pack Mesh Snap Ball Tea Strainer with Handle for Loose Leaf Tea…
  • EASY TO CLEAN - Dishwasher Safe and Reusable, but suggest to wash by hand to enhance…
  • LONG-HANDLED DESIGN - With the long-handled design, you would never be worry about…
  • FINE MESH - Our strainer has ultra-fine mesh ensuring maximum retention of small…
BUY NOW
TOP 5
Image of Playcrate 1 tea strainer
2 Pack Tea Strainer Infuser Ball - Stainless Steel Mesh Spoon for…
  • 2 Pack of Infuser Balls included
  • Strainers are Made of stainless steel, it is durable, rustles, easy to use and c…
  • A perfect companion for your afternoon tea. Just load the ball with loose tea leaves,…
BUY NOW
TOP 6
Image of iJiZuo iZ-Tea-leak-small tea strainer
iJiZuo Tea Infuser for Loose Tea, Stainless Steel Tea Infuser Mesh…
  • ENJOY YOURSELF: The perfect way to enjoy a cup of fresh brew tea! Filter your favorite…
  • EASY TO CLEAN: The tea infuser is really easy to clean and dishwasher safe. Open…
  • EXTRA FINE MESH: The tea strainer has an excellent seal, which is equipped with an…
BUY NOW
TOP 7
Image of Reinmoson RMS-TEA-HG-3.8CM tea strainer
Reinmoson Tea Strainers for Loose Tea, Extra Fine Mesh Tea Infuser,…
  • Package: Comes with 1.5” diameter and 2” high tea balls for loose tea…
  • Wide Application: tea steeper is not only for loose tea leaves but also a spice filter,…
  • Easy to Open and Close: With the design of thread top, the lids screw easily and…
BUY NOW
TOP 8
Image of SUNNEX 11209 tea strainer
Sunnex 11209 Stainless Steel Tea Strainer with Drip Bowl, Silver
  • Material: stainless steel
  • High quality
  • Easy to use
BUY NOW
TOP 9
Image of Juliyeh N\\A tea strainer
2 Pack Filter Tea Mesh with Drip Bowls Tea Strainers Stainless Steel…
  • very suitable for enjoying tea time with friends
  • Scope of application: Stainless steel tea mesh for loose tea leaf filter. Elegant…
BUY NOW
TOP 10
Image of BRITECO 453 tea strainer
2 Pcs Tea Strainer Fine Mesh - Stainless Steel Metal Sieve with Handle,…
  • Durable Construction: Made from seamless and durable welded stainless steel, these…
  • Effortless Cleaning: These fine mesh strainers are dishwasher safe, but hand washing…
  • Compact and Convenient: The tea strainers feature a compact design with a size of…
BUY NOW
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