Ryan Terry said

Best Travel Infuser?

So I’m currently rocking the Mandala Tea Thermos (http://shopmandalatea.com/double-walled-tea-thermos.html), which I do like but having used it for a little over a year now the grate insert is starting to slip from the little notch in the glass, so I feel like it’s only a matter of time before I’m steeping, go to pour into my glass, and everything falls right out. I would consider buying another as a replacement, but I’d feel foolish if I didn’t shop around a bit!

What I’m looking for is just something I can use at work casually. The circumstances aren’t the best, as I can’t control the water temperature at all here (the 200 degree water from the coffee maker is my only realistic option) and overall I just need something that’s simple and doesn’t make a mess and is easy to clean. That’s why so far the Mandala Tea Thermos has worked great, as I don’t actually have to remove the tea from the container until I’m done with it.

Anyway, I’ve looked at the following but none of them seem to be 100% perfect:

http://www.amazon.com/Pekoe-Tree-Infusion-Enlivened-Hydration/dp/B00V6KHABU/ref=sr_1_18?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1439559083&sr=1-18&keywords=10oz+tea+infuser (too big)

http://www.amazon.com/Skinny-Glass-Bottle-Removable-Infuser/dp/B00TNDCK80/ref=sr_1_27?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1439559083&sr=1-27-spons&keywords=10oz+tea+infuser (too big)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00USLAFCO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1H4VZTX4EOYL&coliid=IZPCU0ISGO6LP&psc=1 (only 1 review)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YBHF99A/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1H4VZTX4EOYL&coliid=I121MA0LA8MMX2 (too big)

So I’m not looking for something to infuse raspberries into my water or whatever fruit they make look so appetizingly colorful in the marketing photos. I want something that’s 8-10oz so I can actually control the steeping process a bit. Glass. Doesn’t have to be leak-proof as the thing just sits on my desk. Preferably like the Mandala Thermos where I can just drop the tea leaves in, pour off with the tea still in there, refill, repeat.

http://img6.yehpic.com/IMG_20150814_0946002.jpg

As always, thanks!

12 Replies

Oolong Owl select said

I have the Mandala one and I love it.

Have you tried going in and bending out the little prongs on the sides of the grate? My guess yours is loose as they prongs got bent in over use.
You can always ask if Mandala has an extra grate kicking around in their shop.

Other options, maybe the Libre? (I like the Mandala one way more though)

Garret said

Yep… Owl, I was going to recommend the same thing. Ryan, I have some extra strainers for the tea thermos, too, and would be happy to send you a new one. Grateful, Garret

Ryan Terry said

I’ll give that prong-adjustment a shot, and hopefully I won’t even have to take you up on this – but either way thank you very much! As always, Mandala exceeds all expectations.

LuckyMe said

I have a similar tea tumbler from World Market (http://www.worldmarket.com/product/mobile/lagoon+tile+glass+tea+carafe.do) but the infuser is laughably small. You need a deep infuser basket to properly steep tea and to minimize mess. Something like this:http://www.republicoftea.com/glass-tumbler-with-infuser/p/v20227/

I use my tumbler mostly to store brewed tea. When I want to make tea on the go, I use tea bags filled with loose tea.

Equusfell said

You could use the world market infuser like the Mandala one, and just put the tea leaves in the main compartment, pouring the liquid out into a glass while the infuser is still in (if it will stay).

Julie Jones said

My day to day is a Libre. I also have reviews on my blog for some others. If you want to check it out, it’s www.juliejones.me (there has been an update problem, but the tumbler reviews are still up).

Sei Sei Co. said

Hi there, I just launched a brand which sells tea infusers: http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Infuser-Bottle-Bamboo-Sei/dp/B013PBCGNO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1439929108&sr=8-2&keywords=tumbler+sei+sei

I’m biased, but I think mine works and looks better than any other one I’ve seen.

You can read the review Marzipan wrote about it here: https://www.tealover.net/2015/08/product-review-sei-sei-portable-tea-infuser-bottle/.

Michelle select said

Is this only available on Amazon?

Julie Jones said

You had mentioned something about reviews, I thought. If you want to send a sample I can give you a review. I have reviewed similar ones, but was curious about the “seating” Marzipan mentioned in hers.

Sei Sei Co. said

Hi Julie,

Sorry for the late reply, I’ve been traveling out of the country.

Could you send me a PM?

Sei Sei Co. said

Michelle, unfortunately it is. I’ll have an e-commerce site up within the next two weeks, but till then its just Amazon.

However, I could probably send you one directly via paypal or something.

Dustin said

I just bought a double walled glass tumbler this summer from David’s (similar design as all the other glass tumblers) and sadly it didn’t even last a month before it broke. It was my fault, but I do wish the glass tumblers came with a silicone sleeve to add a little protection like the Life Factory water bottles have.
My most recent tumbler is this one… http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VD7RIV8/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2X163PPQM6L8Y&coliid=I3QMO3TMYLIYL7
It is all steel inside, with a steel strainer and only the lid has plastic in it. Only strange thing is the steel inside doesn’t go down the length of the overall tumbler, so it looks like it would hold more tea than it does. Maybe it is for more insulation?

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