Cameron B. select Send Message

342 Followers / 334 Following

100

Recommended

Cameron B. reviewed Brewing Basket by Finum

3997 tasting notes

After recommending this, I realized I’d never written a note for it. Oops…

This is what I use for 99% of my teas when steeping Western-style. It fits most mugs well, unless the mug is rather wide, and even then it still fits just doesn’t sit as solidly. There is a larger size as well (I use the medium) so that would likely fit larger mugs better. The mesh is super fine and doesn’t let even rooibos through, and is easy to rinse out. The lid doubles as a drip tray, which is super convenient if you just want to lift the basket out and don’t feel like dumping the leaves, or are planning to resteep them. It is extremely durable, I have been using the same baskets for a few years with no issues. Eventually it will build up a layer of tea residue, which darkens the mesh, but I find a run through the dishwasher fixes that right up. They are also quite inexpensive in my opinion, with the 2-pack that I order through Amazon costing about $13.

The only tea that I don’t use this basket for is chamomile, as the tiny stamens/pollen can get stuck in the mesh. But I don’t drink chamomile often, so this is not a big deal for me.

Definitely my favorite teaware! 10/10, would recommend!

https://www.amazon.com/63-421-08-00-Reusable-Stainless-Infusing/dp/B001D07MCU/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=finum+brew+basket&qid=1604157797&sr=8-1

I Like This

11 likes

1 comments

Sil
Delete

i can’t recall/am too lazy to look but upton tea had the most inexpensive finum baskets i could find..similar to that amazon price if i recall…depending on size

People who liked this

Comments

Sil
Delete

i can’t recall/am too lazy to look but upton tea had the most inexpensive finum baskets i could find..similar to that amazon price if i recall…depending on size

Profile

Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron! I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, KBeauty, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- May Sipdowns: 6
- Total 2024 Sipdowns: 19

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season. Occasionally I’ll brew Gongfu style when I’m in the mood. I’ll also often use a kyusu for Japanese teas.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however. I also enjoy maté, rooibos, and honeybush. I love matcha and drink it often! Fruit tisanes are not a favorite, but I’m always willing to try them.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia.

Fruit: All of them! My ‘go-to’s tend to be in the red fruits, stonefruit, or citrus spectra. I also really love apple, banana, berry, fig, lychee, melon, pear, and rhubarb flavors. Tropical fruits aren’t among my favorites, but I still enjoy them once in a while – especially passionfruit, mango, and pineapple. I am not generally a fan of coconut in tea, though there are some exceptions.

Dessert: I love creamy vanilla and marshmallow flavors, along with anything in the caramel family such as butterscotch, toffee, or maple. Chocolate is also a favorite, though I’m often disappointed by it in tea. And don’t forget anything buttery, cakey, or cookie-y!

Floral: I’m a little bit more particular in this category. I very much enjoy jasmine, even strong jasmine, along with sakura, chamomile, and elderflower. Osmanthus is also a favorite of mine. But I’m not crazy about rose or lavender flavors, and I prefer hibiscus in moderation only.

Spices: I don’t generally find myself drawn to masala chai, but I do enjoy spices combined with other flavors. My favorite spices are the warm ones, especially cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, and cardamom. A bit of heat from black pepper or chili is okay too, as long as it’s not overwhelming! Ginger can be a lovely accent, but I find it difficult to drink as a starring flavor.

Aromatics: I’m obsessed with Earl Grey! I also love cooling flavors such as mint (especially spearmint), pine, juniper, and eucalyptus. I am not a fan of strong rosemary or sage in tea.

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing