Herbal teas: selection criteria for a quality product

The tisanière is a container for infusing your herbal tea. In practical terms, it's a large cup (or mug) with a removable filter and lid. It thus resembles a mini-teapot, ideal for brewing herbal teas or loose teas at home or in the office. Once the infusion is complete, simply lift the lid, remove the filter and enjoy! Here's our guide to choosing an herbal tea pot.

Glass or ceramic herbal teapot?

Choosing an herbal teapot depends above all on the choice of material. Indeed, the material it's made from has a major impact on its style and the way you enjoy your infusion. Like teapots, there are both glass and ceramic (stoneware, earthenware, porcelain) teapots. The famous cast-iron teapot, on the other hand, has no teapot in its image.

Choosing a glass teapot

A glass teapot offers a number of advantages. Its transparency allows you to admire the plants or tea leaves as you brew, and to enjoy the color of your beverage. Glass is also very easy to clean. If you choose a glass product, be sure to opt for tempered glass. Tempered glass promises resistance to thermal shock. Indeed, the hot water coming out of the kettle risks breaking a low-quality glass teapot.

Choosing ceramic for your mini-teapot

Ceramic is a terracotta material made from clay. Ceramic herbal teapots include stoneware, earthenware and porcelain products.

Stoneware for sober, solid cups

Stoneware is a clay fired at very high temperatures. The resulting material is dense, non-porous and relatively solid. Choosing a stoneware teapot therefore guarantees a more solid product, impervious to the taste of your herbal teas. However, the high firing temperature prevents the ceramic from being decorated.

Earthenware teapots for colorful tableware

An earthenware mini-teapot is fired at a lower temperature. Unlike stoneware, this ceramic is easy to decorate and produces beautiful products. However, it is more fragile and slightly porous. Choosing an earthenware tisane pot means always brewing the same type of herbal tea, as it retains the taste. Generally speaking, earthenware teapots and mugs are reserved for full-bodied teas, such as black tea.

Porcelain: a distinguished white mug

Porcelain is fashioned from a unique clay: kaolin. Porcelain herbal teapots are more difficult to design, and are generally more expensive. But a porcelain mug has a translucent white color that allows the color of the infusion to be appreciated. Porcelain is shock-resistant and its enamel is impervious to taste. Like earthenware, porcelain is often beautifully decorated.

A tea pot that keeps the heat in and cares for your fingers

To ensure the success of your tea time, choose a teapot with sufficiently thick walls. In this way, your cup retains the ideal temperature for longer and guarantees the taste of your bulk product. Thick ceramic walls also protect your hands from the heat. For glass herbal teapots, choose double walls. This feature promises to keep the heat of the water in without burning your fingers.

A stainless steel filter for your cup

The infuser plays an important role in your choice of herbal teapot. To avoid altering the taste of your herbal or loose tea, choose a stainless steel filter. What's more, stainless steel will stand the test of time. In addition, the use of an infuser with fine openings prevents the passage of the smallest plant pieces and crushed leaves. The final feature to consider is the depth of the filter. An infuser that plunges deeply into your herbal tea pot leaves room for the leaves to unfurl properly. This guarantees the taste and benefits of your herbal tea.

Final details for choosing your infuser mug with care

Now you know the most important criteria for choosing an infuser: the material and the filter. The next step is to focus on the following points.

• Choosing the lid. Does the lid retain the heat of the herbal tea? Can it be turned upside down so that the filter can be placed on top when the infusion is finished?
• Choosing an infuser to suit your taste. Obviously, your future product has to please you. The aesthetics of the object also count, and contribute to the pleasure of your tea time.
• Choose a dishwasher- or microwave-safe mini-teapot. That's an added bonus. This makes it possible to reheat your infusion or save time cleaning your product.

You now have all the information you need to choose an herbal tea maker. Go to Thés & Traditions to buy an herbal tea maker to suit your needs. The pleasure of good loose infusions is yours!