Tea: Now in tube form

When it comes to brewing loose tea, more often than not the tea leaves are placed in a spherical stainless steel steeper and dunked in hot water. Well, no longer: first yellow submarines, and now tubes.

The Tea Tube Infuser by RSVP International passes the ball and instead opts for the tube form to accomplish its task. Measuring 6.25-inches long, the tea steeper makes for an excellent accessory for single-cup tea brewing. Constructed of stainless steel and polycarbonate plastic, the dishwasher safe device offers ease of use with its innovative design. When separated, the stainless steel end acts as a scoop, collecting bulk tea for brewing. The perforations on the other end allow for full 360-degree infusing. With the elongated shape of the tube, loose-leaf tea has more area exposed to hot water than that of a spherical steeper.

Considering the popularity of food in tube form, it seems only fair to give beverages their due. Buying tea in bulk not only saves money, but also lets tea drinkers customize their perfect blend. Now if the same could only be said about hot dogs and other tube shaped foods of indeterminate origin.