Brewing baskets (or infusing baskets) resemble tea strainers, but are more typically put in the top of a teapot to contain the tea leaves during brewing.
Tea strainers in themselves have often been turned into artistic masterpieces of the silver- and goldsmith's craft, as well as rarer specimens of fine porcelain.
Sometimes, the "bouquet" is not bound with string, and its ingredients are filled into a small sachet, a net, or even a tea strainer, instead.
The tea strainer contains artemisia pollen, which is commonly associated with herbal remedies.
As the leaves themselves may be distasteful, it is usual to filter them out with a tea strainer.
By using a tea strainer in this way, the same leaves can be used to brew multiple cups.
Using a tea strainer separates the leaves from the water at the end of the brewing time if a tea bag is not being used.
