Loose leaf tea has a reputation for needing a teapot, a strainer and a bit of time. It doesn’t. If you mostly drink tea on your own, at your desk or on a busy morning, you can brew it straight in your mug, with very little fuss.
All you need is a way to keep the leaves together while they steep, and to lift them out when the tea is ready.
Option 1: a mug with its own infuser
An infuser mug has a removable basket that sits inside. You brew in it, lift the basket out, and drink from the same mug.
- Ceramic Tea Mug with Infuser and Lid. A 300 ml Chinese-inspired mug with a mountain relief, a wooden handle and a ceramic infuser about 8 cm across and 7 cm deep, so the leaves have room to open. The lid sits on top while the tea brews.
- Cat Glass Tea Mug with Fish Infuser. A 250 ml glass mug where a fish-shaped infuser hangs from the cat-shaped lid. When the tea is ready, lift the lid off and the leaves come out with it.
Option 2: tea filters in any mug
Already have a favourite mug? Use a drawstring tea filter. Add one or two teaspoons of loose leaves, pull the drawstring to close it and drop it in your mug. When the colour looks right, lift it out in one go. It works like a tea bag, but with the tea you choose.
How to brew loose leaf tea in a mug, step by step
- Measure the leaves. One or two teaspoons for a mug, depending on how strong you like it.
- Heat the water. Just off the boil for black tea, a little cooler for green. Our guide on how to make tea gives the temperatures and times for each tea.
- Pour and cover. Pour the water over the leaves and put the lid on, if your mug has one.
- Watch the colour. When it looks right, lift the infuser or filter out.
- Enjoy. If you take milk, add it once the leaves are out.
Why lifting the leaves out matters
Tea left sitting on its leaves keeps getting stronger, then bitter. That is the main difference between a good mug of loose leaf tea and a disappointing one. An infuser or filter lets you stop the brew at the right moment, so the last sip tastes like the first.
Keeping your tea warm
If your tea tends to go cold on the desk, the Ceramic Mug Warmer Gift Set comes with a 400 ml mug, a lid and a warming plate. Brew with a tea filter, set the mug on the plate, and it stays warm while you work. Lift the mug and the plate stops heating.
Caring for your mug
- Ceramic Tea Mug with Infuser: wash the mug, infuser and lid by hand, and dry the wooden handle straight away. Not suitable for the dishwasher or the microwave.
- Cat Glass Tea Mug: wash by hand and rinse the fish straight after use, so leaves don’t dry inside. The lid only rests on the mug, so keep it upright.
- Tea filters: each one is for single use.
Which one suits you?
- For tea at your desk: the Ceramic Tea Mug with Infuser, or the Mug Warmer Gift Set with tea filters.
- For something playful, or a gift: the Cat Glass Tea Mug.
- For the mug you already love: tea filters.
Brewing for two or more? A teapot makes more sense: see what size teapot you need. Otherwise, browse all our mugs.