If you want to expand beyond the limits of bagged tea, you will have to enter into the realm of loose leaf. What do you really need to make your perfect cup of tea? Tea pots, infusers, and disposable satchets, here are the pros and cons of all your brewing options.Tea pots for loose leaf tea
I love those little glass tea pots. You get to see the colors of your infusion while brewing and the lid helps to hold in all those beneficial volatile oils that would otherwise escape with the rising steam. Also, the liquid stays relatively warm by the time you are ready for that second cup (if you are a slow sipper however, your next cup will be lukewarm. You have about 15 minutes before the tea starts to go from pleasantly, honey melting hot to tepid). If you want to sip lingering cups of tea, you'll have to spend more than the $20 or $30 for the average glass pot and go high-end. The Berghoff glass pot
for example, comes with a really cool warmer. It is stainless steel, and uses the heat of a candle. Place under your glass pot for subtle warmth — very natural. I don't have it yet, but it is on my wish list.The problem with glass pots is that they break. I had one for a little over one year, washed it by hand in about 90 seconds, but I did eventually break the pot, leaving me with only the infuser basket, which is really all that I need.
The best loose leaf tea infuser
The classic infuser is the mesh ball, my mother and grandmother both used one. You can buy one for a couple of dollars, wash easily, and use it 
over and over again. The cons — you can only make one cup of tea and you still need a cover — little ceramic plates work well. And, they break, really easily. For a heavy tea drinker, they are not a great option.In mug infusers, personally I love them, even more than steeping cups. They are easy to use, easy to clean, and they last. For a great loose leaf tea infuser with a lid, Forlife has a nice model for just over 10 dollars.
Satches
Disposable tea filters are wonderful. They are convenient! Especially when you are preparing your cup of calming tea at the office. You can also use them with to go cups. They do, however, create waste and you have to keep on buying them. For the eco minded, use satchets that are compostable. Mountain Rose Herbs has nice unbleached, chlorine free paper filters.
You have a lot of infusing options with loose leaf tea. Don't feel like you need to invest in a pot, unless you drink more than one cup at a time or like to enjoy your tea with a friend. Otherwise in cup infusers are really wonderful, and satchets are your convenient, on the go option.
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