Difference between a tea infuser and a diffuser?

I have a Webster sterling lidded sort of shell shape with handle what I have always called a tea infuser. Of late I have seen handled lidded tea thingies that some are calling tea diffusers.

Question, isn't mine definitely an infuser and just what is a tea diffuser?



Here is one like mine, but on a chain - no handle:
http://www.teainfusers.info/browse/...ID=446&sID=all&where=Infusers - tea balls#446

TIA!

--- Susan

 

I believe it's an incorrect name for a tea infuser, spread by numties that don't know what they're talking about.

 

Just so. Numpties.

 

They're both abominations.

 

Although I have some tea that so strong it was lethal and should have been "diffused".

 

Explain please , Bear . Whats the best way ?

 

Ah. Bear with me.

Teapot - I use a 1960s Old Hall stainless steel one, but a china one is fine, Brown Bettys are nice. Draw fresh COLD water, having allowed the tap to run for a few moments, and put it in the kettle to boil. Warm the pot a little with hot water - from the hot tap is fine. Add one teaspoon of LEAF tea per person to the teapot - a bit more according to what tea you use or if you like it builders' strength.

As the water boils fiercely, and DO NOT let it go off the boil, pour it in the pot. Leave it a minute, then stir, then leave it again for another couple of minutes. Mug or cup - add milk to your liking, then pour the tea in. Use a tea strainer if you must, but if you make it properly, the leaves settle. I don't much care for non UK milk, as we pasteurise rather than sterilise, but there's not much to be done about that.

No tea bags. No poncy tea. No bloody flavourings or additives or nonsense like that. I like Yorkshire tea, but YMMV. And never ever tea bags.

I am also very fussy about coffee.

 

Tea leaves in a pre heated teapot.

That way you also need a tea strainer, adding to the list of items you need to perform the 'Nice cup of tea' ritual.

Useless time wasting rituals for the idle to fill their empty days with should be as elaborate and require as much apparatus as possible.

The more complicated the ritual and kit needed, the better you can assess the social level of your opponents or 'guests' and the more chance there is of one or other of them making some error in ritual or implement handling, increasing the self satisfation of those who made no slips.

During the Victorian period, many lives were lost to suicide after using the wrong choice of half a dozen similar knives, the mortification proving mortal.

 

OH my ! Now I feel like a dolt for sending CXgirl flavored tea bags ! LOL ! Isnt it a pain to clean out all those loose leaves ? I remember my mom used to make ice tea ( The horror! ) with loose leaf tea ,it was always so tasty . Im going to find some loose leaf tea and make a pot ,Ill probably be blown away at the difference in taste . Thanks for the tutorial .

 

Nah, the leaves just rinse out - I tip them on the roses.

 

A pome for af:

Phone for the fish knives, Norman
As cook is a little unnerved;
You kiddies have crumpled the serviettes
And I must have things daintily served.

Are the requisites all in the toilet?
The frills round the cutlets can wait
Till the girl has replenished the cruets
And switched on the logs in the grate.

It's ever so close in the lounge dear,
But the vestibule's comfy for tea
And Howard is riding on horseback
So do come and take some with me

Now here is a fork for your pastries
And do use the couch for your feet;
I know that I wanted to ask you-
Is trifle sufficient for sweet?

Milk and then just as it comes dear?
I'm afraid the preserve's full of stones;
Beg pardon, I'm soiling the doileys
With afternoon tea-cakes and scones.

 

And I prefer to start with good-quality tea, and fresh.
One of the main issues with teabags is that they tend to be old, and if they have been in the cupboard for years they will not be good tea; and in fact if one has kept the leaf tea for years it may have gone off a bit too, depending on storage method.
Sugar, no milk for me, please.

 

I never saw the attraction to this foul smelling, bitter, hot water

 

OMG!!!!!! My pinkie just FLEW up off my tea cup!!!!!

 

It is worth pointing out that the poem is a rather mean spirited mockery of the suburban bourgoisie from a Public school and Oxford boy who had decades of strict training in what was U and Non U.

 

Indeed, af. I love it, though.

allfakes, I get through a pack of leaf tea in less than a week - it's foil packed so has no time to go stale.

 

Hi,
Nice to have a real cup of tea. I have a small silver "something or other" thing to unplug the tea leaves if they stick coming out of the spout.
greg

 

I think my Mom had some boxes of teabags with the mark "best by August 1993." That would certainly give you that bitter-smelling hot water.

 

Thank you, one and all! Another new word for me - numpty. Honestly, I don't think I've heard that name for a stupid person before though have heard a multitude of other names.

Bear, your tea ritual sounds wonderful. My brother married a very English Canadian girl. She had certain tea preparations - still practices most of them - similar to yours like "start with fresh cold water," "DO NOT let it go off the boil, pour it in the pot" and adds the milk to the cup before the tea. In recent decades she does occasionally use teabags, but she probably feels like she is committing a cardinal sin or causing her mother to turn over in the grave.

--- Susan

 

@johnnycb09 the tea you sent was delicious

Don't throw them out, I bet someone would buy them