Does anyone have any experience with this travel tumbler from Teavana?

Oh my god, that sounds brilliant! I can still refuse the UPS shipment to my door and give teavana the cold shoulder. Do you know any Canadian tea retailers that sell this at a fairly inexpensive price?

By the way, could you give me a quick review of how you like your tumbler? Is it leak proof, how long does it retain the temperature, and does it leave a funny taste?

Thanks for your awesome and very helpful reply!

You’d probably be better off accepting the package and returning the item. I know for a fact Teavana resends returned packages, as I just discussed that issue with them.

i only just got it literally today actually, so i haven’t used it enough out in the wild to give a good review…i usually take tea tumblers out saturday morning while doing errands though, so i will try my best to report back sometime after tomorrow’s jaunts. crossing my fingers it works out because yeah, i find it frustrating how i only know of two tumblers that let you leave the infuser basket in without oversteeping. some of the reviews on amazon make me nervous, but i’ve learned a lot of times for kitchen-y gear reviews are all over the place and then i find whatever item it is doesn’t cause half the problems people mention, so…hopefully!

as for where to find it in canada, i’m not sure as i’m in the US. i will do some sniffing though, ‘cause i know copco’s infuser tumblers are available in the UK or used to be, so…

EDIT: here it is: http://www.sears.ca/product/copco-stainless-tea-thermal/611-000291948-2510-4600

Awesome. I can’t wait to hear back from how it goes. Thanks!

this was the review that got me interested in it:
http://englishtea.us/2010/01/28/tea-thermal-from-copco/
and it links to another unfavorable review but that individual’s issues with it wouldn’t bother me personally (i don’t add stuff to my tea, etc.) so i didn’t take it into consideration.

i meant to say earlier too, in case it was unclear, i don’t know of any tumbler that keeps the infuser in without oversteeping and is also not plastic-lined. :( just a heads up if plastic is entirely out as an option for you. all of the attributes one wishes for in a single tumbler—retains heat crazy well, no plastic, leaves infuser in without oversteeping, doesn’t leak, durable/somewhat spillproof, can be sipped from without taking a lid off, gives enough room for leaves expand, easy to wash—don’t seem to exist in a single one maybe due to the pros and cons of different materials for different things. i doubt this will keep tea warm like a vacuum thermos would, but am ok with that personally because i drink my tea on the go within an hour or so anyway.

i already have the hourglass steeper that you flip from zen tea (a canadian company!) and like it but am trying to figure out a way to hack it—it would work perfectly at infusing without oversteeping (you flip it when it’s done infusing so the water doesn’t reach the infuser basket anymore) except you’ve still got to remove the infuser basket anyway to avoid sipping leaves. if there was some sort of round flat top filter you could screw on or was hinged to close on top of the infuser basket once you’ve put the leaves in and screwed it closed they wouldn’t get in your mouth. i wish someone would make something like that for it as a mod…

Hmm, I think as long as it is leak proof, keeps the tea at least warm, and leaves the infuser in without over-steeping I will be happy :).

OK, update: when I first took it apart yesterday and washed it out I got wary because I could definitely see how some of the negative reviews might be spot on…the steeper basket is tiny even as these things go (it’s smaller than the one in the hourglass flip tumbler Zen Tea sold me, and that one’s not really large); I put Queen Catherine in there which is not a CTC but also isn’t particularly fluffy and it was a tight fit to put 16oz worth of leaf in there even dry. :/ Also, the complaints about the way the steeper basket just sort of needs to be pushed hard and tight into the lid are true, and I actually gave myself a small cut on the rim of the metal basket because its edges are sharpsharp thin metal (gotta be careful!). I also definitely can see how the piece on the lid that snaps to cover the drinking spout a) can easily break at any moment, it’s pretty flimsy b) likely isn’t reliably leakproof (you can see it here: http://tasteofenglishtea.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/tea_blog_copco-teathrmlcap2.jpg?w=300&h=112 ). So I was feeling let down before even trying it. :/ THAT SAID, today when I filled it with hot water and steeped it, some of that was allayed—at least for now it actually is leakproof (I know because there was some left after going out, still very very hot, so I just screwed off the entire lid/infuser upon returning home and placed it on my kitchen counter upside down…was sure tea would leak but it didn’t). That said I would definitely not be comfortable just tossing it in a bag; the snap that closes the drinking hole cover doesn’t have any kind of reassuring snappy tightness, but just sort of slides in place in a way that makes me believe if it bumped against something it’d slide open. Also, the infuser closing mechanism does work as designed, but first you have to learn where exactly to align the basket holes when you connect it to the lid or it won’t close up right (not a big deal, but also not explained in the tiny little guide that comes with it). I did still enjoy the taste of my tea, but I would never even try to steep fluffy long oolongs…this seems best or even only for stubbier brisk black teas (or even a couple tea bags, so you don’t have to dispose of them on the go).

It is comfortable to hold, warm but not hothot (a plus over the hourglass tumbler). It kept my tea plenty hot, but then I’m the sort of person who only uses one on trips or errands and finds Thermos and Timolino-type tumblers TOO good at keeping it hot—I like to be able to start drinking my tea within 30 minutes of putting the tumbler together. The sip hole is the type where you sort of have to slurp it up, which is a recipe for a burnt tongue if it stays hot too long. I don’t doubt it’d keep tea pleasantly hot/warm at least 2 hours, but that’s just according to my preferences.

tl;dr: Not a good choice if you need a tumbler leakproof enough you can toss in a bag with other stuff, but won’t leak if you’re just, like, keeping it in your car holder. Not a good choice if you primarily want to drink long fluffy loose teas like oolongs, the infuser is quite small.

BTW, I finally found another option BUT it’s craaaaazy expensive. It seems absolutely perfect though so I’ll at least mention it—there’s a tumbler from China (product number FG-3100 on places like Ali Express) that is a lot like the Eight Cranes Perfect Steeper but with all of its problems fixed—it’s stainless steel so no risk of exploding glass, it’s 12oz instead of 8oz, aaaand after you’ve flipped the tumbler to stop it steeping, the steeping basket gets screwed to the bottom and what was the lid on the bottom can go on the top to seal your just made tea. The infuser chamber is the biggest I’ve seen, perfect for oolongs etc. And the “leftover tea in the infuser chamber is dry and sealed up in the bottom” design means you can then resteep as much as you like on the go, just adding water. I am super in love with it BUT it’s only available in non-wholesale quantities (as far as I can find anyway) from Dragon Tea House on ebay for…drumroll…over $65. Ugggggh.

link here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stainless-Steel-Vacuum-Thermos-Flask-Filter-360ml-/220365870417

Thank you so much for doing such a detailed review! It seems like the aladdin essential infuser is the best way to go so far :/

No prob! I am such a wind bag! (:

Yeah, I’m guessing the Aladdin’s basket is similarly tiny based on pics of it I’ve seen…but if it’s bumpably leakproof it’d have that over the Copco. I get the feeling both have similar “looks like the plastic mechanisms for steeping and sipping could break at any time” issues, alas.

The tumbler looks great but I’m just worried that tea leaves will end up in my mouth since there is nothing stopping the leaves from floating to the drinking area. A lot of people have made this complaint about this particular travel mug in their reviews. Also, having to take out the brewing basket prevents me from reusing the tea leaves for a second run, which really stinks for me. Any ways around this? Thanks for your reply!

Timolino’s are great. I have a full 8hr day at school and my tea stays warm that entire time. With the basket you’re suppose to take it out so you don’t over steep the tea. For some people this works, others not so much. I have the largest timolino so I brew my tea in the morning and it usually lasts me through the end of my day. I’ll resteep my leaves when I get home for a second or third cup of tea.

But when you’re at school where do you put your basket? Or do you simply brew at home and leave the basket there as well before going to school?

I brew at home and leave the basket there. I got the large timolino to get me through a full day. When I was an intern I had a little dish I’d put my basket on. This might be a little bit much, but at least the leaves don’t steep for too long.

i’m guessing based on the closing mechanism of this one it’s got to be pretty shallow—it has to prevent excess water from sitting in the infuser chamber when you switch it to closed. a bunch of the reviews mention it’s not quite roomy enough for fluffier/nicer tea leaves, but i’m not surprised by that—it’s hard to provide enough steeping room in something that has to somehow stop making contact with the water and leave most of the water for you to drink, if that makes sense. i’m hoping that isn’t a huge issue for me as i tend to make brisk smaller breakfast blend-type teas for on the go (the hourglass steeper i have from zen tea’s basket isn’t tiny but is pretty small too, and i’ve enjoyed many trips with queen catherine in it, ha). if i had to use my tumbler to drink stuff like oolong away from home at work (i work from home) i’d probably just figure out how to have a little brewing station at my desk. but that’s just me.

i remember your timolino “basket too shallow” issue! it reminded me of the ingenuity of the takeya flash chill pitchers—the infuser basket for that thing is craaaaazy deep, pretty much reaching the very bottom of the pitcher. love that thing!

Keep in mind the glass version, as far as I know, does not let you screw the finished infuser basket to the bottom to seal it. It’s also 8oz instead of 12oz and there’ve been reports of the glass shattering/exploding due to pressure or thermal shock. Just a heads up!

That other one, aside from the plastic issue and assuming it is leakproof, looks awesome for the price, a better designed Copco+Libre. Hmmm…!