tea infuser

thumb|A cheap generic mesh tea infuser ball

A tea infuser is a device in which loose, dried tea leaves are placed for steeping or brewing, in a mug or a teapot full of hot water. It is sometimes called a teaball, tea maker or tea egg. The tea infuser gained popularity in the first half of the 19th century. Tea infusers enable one to easily steep tea from fannings and broken leaf teas.