tea balls

Tea balls are small perforated metal or mesh containers used to steep loose tea leaves in hot water.

The spherical or egg-shaped device opens on a hinge, allowing you to fill it with tea, then clamp it shut and submerge it in your cup or pot.

A chain typically attaches the ball to a hook that rests on the rim, making retrieval easy.

I prefer using a tea ball to dealing with soggy leaves in my cup.