Essential Tea Accessories: A Beginner Guide to Better Brewing

Making the switch from tea bags to loose leaf tea is one of the best decisions you can make for your palate. But it can also be intimidating. Do you really need a bamboo whisk? A clay pot? A scale?

The truth is, you don't need a cupboard full of gadgets to brew excellent tea. You just need a few key tools to control the essential variables: leaf, water, time, and temperature.

Here is our guide to the essential tea accessories for beginners—and the ones you can skip for now.

1. The Infuser: Room to Bloom

The biggest mistake beginners make is using a small "tea ball" or novelty silicone infuser. Tea leaves need space to expand (bloom) to release their full flavor.

Best Option: Basket Infuser

A stainless steel basket infuser that fits inside your mug is the gold standard for beginners.

• Why it works: It provides ample room for leaves to circulate and expand.
• Cost: Affordable ($5-$15).
• Maintenance: Easy to clean and durable.

Skip: Small mesh balls, silicone shapes (often impart flavor), and "tea tongs."

2. The Vessel: Mug or Teapot?

You don't need a fancy teapot to start.

For Solo Brewing

A simple ceramic mug is perfect. Combine it with your basket infuser, and you have a complete brewing system.

For Sharing

If you want to brew for two, a glass teapot (500ml-800ml) is ideal. Glass lets you see the color of the tea change, which is helpful for judging strength. Plus, it looks beautiful!

3. The Kettle: Temperature Control

Water temperature is critical. Green tea needs cooler water (175°F/80°C) than black tea (212°F/100°C).

Best Option: Variable Temperature Electric Kettle

This is the single best investment you can make.

• Precision: Set the exact temperature for your tea type.
• Convenience: No more guessing or waiting for water to cool.
• Consistency: Get the same great cup every time.

Budget Option: Kitchen Thermometer

If you can't buy a new kettle, use a simple kitchen thermometer to check your boiling water after letting it cool for a few minutes.

4. The Scale: Consistency is Key

"One teaspoon" is an unreliable measure. A teaspoon of fluffy white tea weighs far less than a teaspoon of dense rolled oolong.

Why you need it: Weighing your leaves (e.g., 2.5 grams per cup) ensures you get the right strength every time. What to get: A simple kitchen scale that measures to 0.1g or 1g is sufficient.

5. Storage: Keeping it Fresh

Tea degrades when exposed to light, air, heat, and moisture.

Essentials:

• Opaque Tins: Or jars kept in a dark cupboard.
• Airtight Seals: Double lids are great, but a good screw top works too.

Avoid: Glass jars on the windowsill! UV light kills tea flavor rapidly.

6. The Timer: Precision Brewing

Timing your steep is just as important as the temperature. A difference of 30 seconds can turn a sweet green tea into a bitter mess.

While you could use your phone's default clock, it's easy to get distracted and forget your tea.

The Best Tool: Steep App

The Steep app is designed specifically for tea lovers.

• Custom Presets: Automatically sets the right time for Green, Black, Oolong, and more.
• Adjustable: prefer it stronger? Add 30 seconds easily.
• Notifications: Gentle alerts so you never over-steep again.

Summary Checklist

Ready to start? Here is your shopping list, prioritized:

1. Basket Infuser (Essential)
2. Variable Temp Kettle (Highly Recommended)
3. Airtight Storage (Essential)
4. Kitchen Scale (Recommended)
5. Steep App (Free & Essential)

You can build your collection over time, but these basics will instantly elevate your tea game from "colored water" to "gourmet experience."

Download Steep on the App Store →

Happy brewing! 🍵