Cinnamon Bun Tea Infuser

Fill it with loose leaf tea, lower it into your cup and drape the chain over the rim. The silicone body lets hot water circulate while holding the leaves back. The white dish on the end of the chain is more than a counterweight: once the tea has brewed, you rest the dripping infuser in it instead of leaving a puddle on the table.

The body is silicone, the chain and fitting are stainless steel. Silicone copes with boiling water, keeps its shape and — unlike some plastics — does not pick up a flavour of its own that ends up in the cup. The packaging measures roughly 10 × 6 × 16 cm.

Loose leaves have room to unfurl, unlike the compressed contents of a bag, which means more aroma and precise dosing per cup. An infuser is the simplest way in — no filter basket, no teapot, just a cup and some tea. The fact that it looks like a pastry does not hurt either.

A natural small-gift candidate: a host present, a Secret Santa pick, an advent calendar filler, or paired with a packet of loose tea as a little set. Winkee supplies it in a printed hanging box.

• Do not overfill — tea leaves need space to open up
• Hook the chain over the rim so the infuser cannot slip into the cup
• Rest it in the white dish after brewing to catch the drips
• Empty and rinse straight after use; dried leaves cling stubbornly
• For strong varieties, an occasional soak with a little bicarbonate of soda lifts staining

What is the little white dish for? It hangs outside the cup as a counterweight and doubles as a rest for the wet infuser once brewing is done.

Does it fit every cup? Normal cups and mugs, yes. Very narrow espresso cups get tight — and tea has little room to brew in those anyway.

How do I clean it? Empty it, rinse under warm water and let it dry open. Winkee gives no guidance on machine cleaning, so cleaning by hand is the safe option.

Will the silicone stain over time? Pale silicone can take on colour from dark varieties such as black tea or rooibos. That is normal and does not affect how it works.

Does it smell or taste of cinnamon? No, the cinnamon bun is purely a shape — flavour and aroma come from the tea alone.

• Material: silicone, stainless steel
• Shape: cinnamon bun with icing and a face
• With chain and white drip dish for the cup rim
• Packaging: approx. 10 × 6 × 16 cm
• Includes: 1 tea infuser with chain and dish