How to Use Your Avodah Infuser Mug

To use your Avodah infuser mug, add loose leaf tea or a tea bag to the removable infuser, pour in hot water, steep for the time your tea needs, then lift the infuser out and sip. For iced tea or cold brew, brew it in the same mug and switch to the straw lid. One mug takes you from your morning steep to your afternoon iced cup.

Your mug has four parts that work together:

•             A removable stainless steel infuser that holds loose leaf or a tea bag

•             A triple-insulated body: a copper lining set between two layers of food-grade stainless steel, which holds heat (or cold) for hours

•             An infuser lid for hot tea

•             A straw lid for iced tea and cold brew

Here is how to get the very best from each.

How to Brew Hot Tea in Your Infuser Mug

1. Add Your Tea to the Infuser

One heaped teaspoon of loose leaf (2 to 3 g), or one tea bag, per 8 oz of water. Fill the basket no more than halfway with loose leaf: leaves can swell to several times their size and need room to unfurl.

2. Pour and Steep

Pour water at the right temperature for your tea and put the lid on. The lid keeps the heat in and holds the aromatic oils of herbs like chamomile and lavender in your tea. Steep times at a glance:

•             Green and white tea: 1 to 3 minutes, water around 80°C

•             Oolong and black tea: 3 to 5 minutes, water near boiling

•             Herbal tea and rooibos: 5 to 7 minutes, full boil

Every tea type in our steep time and temperature chart.

3. Lift the Infuser Out

When the time is up, lift the infuser out. This stops the brewing, so your tea stays smooth instead of turning bitter. Rest the infuser on a saucer or the inverted lid.

Tip for herbal blends: caffeine-free herbal teas like Sleep Restore and Quiet Mind are forgiving, so you can leave the infuser in a little longer for a stronger cup. True teas like green and black should come out on time.

4. Let It Cool to a Safe Sipping Temperature

Your mug keeps tea hot for hours, so give it a few minutes before your first sip. The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies drinking very hot beverages, above 65°C (149°F), as probably carcinogenic to humans. [1] Freshly boiled tea starts near 100°C. Let it sit with the lid off for a few minutes, or until it is comfortable to sip, and enjoy it hot rather than scalding.

How to Make Iced Tea in Your Infuser Mug

Brew hot at double strength, then cool it over ice.

1.          Add twice your usual amount of tea to the infuser.

2.          Fill the mug about halfway with hot water and steep for the normal time.

3.          Lift the infuser out.

4.          Top up with ice, then switch to the straw lid.

The double-strength brew means melting ice brings it back to perfect strength instead of watering it down.

How to Cold Brew Tea in Your Infuser Mug

This is where the mug really shines: no pitcher, no strainer, no extra glass.

Before Bed

Add your usual amount of loose leaf or a tea bag to the removable infuser. Fill the mug with cold, fresh water, put the lid on, and place it in the fridge overnight.

In the Morning

Taste it. If you like the strength, lift the infuser out, add ice if you want, switch to the straw lid and walk out the door. The same insulation that keeps tea hot keeps your cold brew cold for hours.

Cold brew tastes smoother and naturally sweeter because cold water extracts fewer of the bitter compounds. [2] Full method in How to Make Iced Tea and Cold Brew Tea.

Best teas for cold brew in your mug: rooibos-based Quiet Mind, floral oolong Lean Bloom, and any fruity or minty herbal blend.

Can You Use Tea Bags in the Infuser Mug?

Yes. Drop a tea bag into the removable infuser, or straight into the mug and remove it when the steep is done. Whole-leaf pyramid bags work beautifully either way.

How Long Does It Keep Tea Hot or Cold?

For hours. The copper-lined, triple-insulated wall slows heat transfer in both directions, so hot tea stays hot through a long morning and cold brew stays cold through a warm afternoon. Copper is one of the most effective materials for reflecting heat, which is why it sits between the two stainless steel walls.

Taking Your Mug on the Go

•             Lift the infuser out before you travel so your tea does not over-steep in the car.

•             Use the straw lid for cold drinks only. Hot liquids through a straw can scald.

•             Do not fill hot tea to the brim before closing the lid. Leave a little space.

How to Clean Your Infuser Mug

Every Day

1.          Tip the used leaves into the compost.

2.          Rinse the infuser under warm running water.

3.          Wash the body. The stainless steel body is dishwasher safe.

4.          Let all parts dry fully, with the lids off, before you reassemble.

Now and Then

Hand wash the lids and infuser to protect the seals and keep them in best condition.

Removing Tea Stains and Smells

Tea, especially black tea and rooibos, can leave a light stain over time. Fill the mug with warm water and a tablespoon of baking soda, leave it for 15 minutes, then scrub gently with a soft brush and rinse. For a stubborn smell, a splash of white vinegar in warm water works too.

Never

•             Never microwave it. It is stainless steel.

•             Never use steel wool or harsh abrasives, which scratch the finish.

Brewing Matcha?

Whisk matcha separately, then pour it into your mug. Matcha is a fine powder that dissolves rather than steeps, so it does not belong in the infuser basket. Whisk 1 teaspoon of Green Zen in a little water at 75 to 80°C until frothy, then pour it in and top up with hot water, or over ice for an iced matcha.

The Avodah Moment: One Mug, Every Moment

Avodah means devotion and service. Your day moves fast, and your tea moves with you: the slow morning cup, the desk cup, the iced cup in the car between the next two things.

This mug is built so you never have to skip the pause. Before you rush out, brew it. Hold it in both hands for one slow breath before the day begins. And tonight, put tomorrow's cold brew in the fridge, so the first thing waiting for you in the morning is something made for you.

You cannot pour from an empty cup. This is where you fill yours.

Shop the Avodah Infuser Mug | Explore All Infuser Mugs

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use tea bags in the infuser mug?

Yes. Loose leaf or tea bags both work in the removable infuser.

Is the Avodah infuser mug dishwasher safe?

The stainless steel body is dishwasher safe. Hand washing the lids and infuser now and then keeps the seals in best condition.

How long does it keep tea hot?

For hours. The copper-lined, triple-insulated wall holds heat, and keeps cold brew cold just as long.

How much tea do I put in the infuser?

One heaped teaspoon of loose leaf, or one tea bag, per 8 oz of water. Fill the basket no more than halfway.

Should I leave the infuser in?

Lift it out when the steep time is up so true teas do not turn bitter. Herbal blends are forgiving if left a little longer.

Can I cold brew tea in the mug?

Yes. Add tea to the infuser, fill with cold water, refrigerate overnight, then switch to the straw lid.

Can I microwave the infuser mug?

No. It is stainless steel and must never go in the microwave.

How do I remove tea stains?

Soak with warm water and a tablespoon of baking soda for 15 minutes, then scrub gently and rinse.

Your day. Your tea. Your Avodah Moment.

References

1.          Loomis D, Guyton KZ, Grosse Y, et al. Carcinogenicity of drinking coffee, mate, and very hot beverages. Lancet Oncol. 2016;17(7):877-878.

2.          Lin SD, Yang JH, Hsieh YJ, Liu EH, Mau JL. Effect of different brewing methods on quality of green tea. J Food Process Preserv. 2014;38(3):1234-1243.

 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. Avodah teas are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition, speak with your healthcare provider before adding a new herbal tea to your routine.