The Tea Infuser: A Measured Charge, and a Float to Lift It Out

"My invention relates to improvements in tea infusers or steepers in which a perforated receptacle is provided for holding tea-leaves during the time of their immersion in preparing tea liquor; and the objects of my improvements are to provide a utensil which will produce a uniform strength of tea at each steeping, no matter what quantity of liquor is desirable; also, that the last cup drawn may be of the same quality as the first". "The cylindrical case A, cap B, and piston E are punctured or perforated to allow for the perfect action of the water upon the inclosed tea-leaves." "If more cups than one is desirable, the rod D is adjusted outwardly in the gage-cap B to the desired notch, each notch representing a cup of liquor when steeped." "As it rests in the teapot or other vessel, the bob G remains upon the surface of the liquid, being connected to the infuser by the anchor-cord F. I use a cork in the construction of my bob G, which, being a non-conductor of heat, the infuser can be removed without danger of burning the operator's hand."

Heat water to just off the boil and check it with a kitchen thermometer. Put two measured doses of loose black tea in two infusers and steep each in 500 ml of water in a jug. Lift one infuser out after four minutes. Leave the other in. Pour a glass from each at 4, 10 and 20 minutes and line them up on white paper. Compare colour, then taste (carefully, not hot): the left-in pot grows darker and more astringent, the other does not change. To put a number on colour, dilute the darkest glass with water, measured in the jug, until it matches the lightest, and record how much water it took.

**John H. Sutthoff** of Seattle, Washington, filed US 561,921 on 20 June 1895; it is dated 9 June 1896. **Honest limits.** The patent gives no dose or sizes, and the steeping model is a simple sketch. The dose, bulk density, tube size and time constants in the notebook are examples; your glasses and dilutions are the measurement.