Genuine Fred Grim Steeper Silicone Tea Infuser

For most teas, no — the bottom stopper fits tightly and prevents leaks, which 5 reviewers specifically confirmed. However, 5 other reviewers noted that very small tea leaves and fine particulates can escape through the infuser's holes. So it depends on your tea: standard loose leaf, thick-leaf, and CTC teas steep cleanly with minimal escapees. Fine rooibos, powdery herbals, or dust-grade teas will likely leave some sediment in your cup. One thing to watch for: a few reviewers said the bottom stopper can pop out if you squeeze the infuser, and it's a bit tricky to reseat when wet.

It's one of the most giftable tea accessories out there. With 28 reviewers specifically calling out the fun, humorous grim reaper design, it's clearly a crowd-pleaser. It works especially well as a gift for tea lovers with a dark or macabre sense of humor, gothic decor enthusiasts, or anyone who'd appreciate a Halloween-year-round vibe. It's also functional enough that the recipient will actually use it, not just set it on a shelf. Several reviewers mention it as a conversation starter at the office and at home. If you're gifting to a serious tea purist who only drinks fine teas, they might prefer a precision mesh infuser — but for pretty much everyone else, this is a hit.

It stays submerged. The Grim Steeper is heavy enough to sink to the bottom of your mug, which is important because you want the leaves fully in the water for proper steeping. Cheap silicone infusers often float annoyingly at the surface, but reviewers confirm this one sinks down and stays put. The scythe hooks onto your cup rim to keep it positioned, so you get good leaf submersion without having to push it down.

Yes — and this is one of those unexpected bonuses reviewers discovered. The scythe is removable, and several people report using it to stir their tea after removing the infuser body. It's a small detail, but it adds to the overall experience and means one less utensil to grab. When it's not being used as a stirrer, the scythe's main job is hooking onto the rim of your mug to keep the infuser in place during steeping.

Heat your water to the right temperature for your tea type (boiling for black tea, around 175°F for green tea). While the water heats, remove the Grim Steeper's bottom stopper and fill the body with about 1-2 teaspoons of loose leaf tea — the large capacity means leaves have room to expand and release full flavor. Replace the stopper, place the reaper in your mug with the scythe hooked on the rim, and pour in your hot water. Steep for 3-5 minutes depending on tea type. Thick leaf teas and CTC varieties work especially well; very fine teas like rooibos may let some particles escape through the holes.

It's actually ideal for beginners. The operation couldn't be simpler: fill it, drop it in, steep, lift it out. There are no complicated parts, no clasps, no chains to untangle. Reviewers say it makes loose leaf tea approachable and fun, which is exactly what a beginner needs — something that removes intimidation and adds enjoyment. The visual entertainment of watching the little reaper steep gives you a natural cue that your tea is brewing. And if the novelty factor is what gets someone to finally try loose leaf over tea bags, that's a genuine gateway to better tea.

Yes — it's versatile enough for both single mugs and whole pots. Several reviewers use it in oversized mugs and small teapots. The large capacity is actually an advantage here since you can load up more tea for a bigger vessel. The scythe won't hook onto a teapot rim the same way it does on a mug, but the infuser itself will sit at the bottom and steep just fine. Just fish it out with a spoon or tongs when you're done.

For standard and oversized mugs, it fits perfectly. One reviewer did mention it can be too large for some smaller cup sizes, so if you mainly use dainty teacups or espresso-sized cups, it might overwhelm the vessel. For your average coffee mug or large tea mug, though, it sits comfortably with the scythe hooking onto the rim. When in doubt, measure your mug's opening — the reaper needs room to hang without crowding.

It depends on what you value most. If you want a functional infuser that also brings genuine joy to your tea routine, the Grim Steeper is a fantastic pick — it has a large capacity that allows tea leaves to expand properly, and the scythe hooks onto your cup rim to keep it in place. For fine teas like rooibos, a mesh basket infuser with smaller holes might be better since the Grim Steeper's holes can let very fine particles through. But for most standard loose leaf teas — especially thicker leaf varieties and CTC teas — the Grim Steeper works well and makes the experience far more entertaining.

Consider three things: capacity, hole size, and ease of cleaning. The Grim Steeper scores well on capacity — it's large enough for oversized mugs and even small pots. Its holes work great for most standard and thick-leaf teas, though they can let very fine teas like rooibos slip through. Cleaning is a breeze — reviewers praise how easy it is to rinse with no trapped leaves, and it's dishwasher safe. If you want something purely functional, a stainless steel basket might edge it out. But if you want function plus personality, the Grim Steeper delivers both.

Traditional tea balls are small mesh spheres you clamp shut — they work but they're cramped, giving leaves little room to expand. The Grim Steeper has a much larger interior capacity, which means your tea leaves can unfurl and release more flavor. The filling method is different too: instead of prying open a tiny clasp, you just pop out the bottom stopper, fill up, and reseal. Cleanup is also easier with the Grim Steeper since silicone rinses clean without trapping leaves in mesh. The trade-off is that a fine mesh ball will catch smaller particles better than the Grim Steeper's silicone holes.

Yes, silicone tea infusers like the Grim Steeper are food-safe. The Grim Steeper is made from high-quality, flexible, durable silicone that's designed for repeated contact with boiling water. Multiple reviewers have noted the quality of the silicone material, describing it as sturdy and well-made. It's also dishwasher safe, which speaks to the material's heat and chemical resistance. Just make sure you're buying from a reputable brand like Genuine Fred rather than unknown knockoffs.

A strainer sits on top of your cup and catches leaves as you pour tea through it — the leaves steep freely in the pot first. An infuser like the Grim Steeper holds the leaves inside while it sits submerged in your water, letting flavor flow out through the holes while keeping leaves contained. The Grim Steeper works as an infuser: you fill the reaper's body with loose leaf tea through the bottom opening, drop it into your mug, and let it steep. The grim reaper literally 'hangs out' in your cup while your tea brews.

Tea infuser bottles have a built-in basket you fill with tea and screw into the bottle — they're designed for on-the-go brewing. The Grim Steeper is a different animal: it's a standalone novelty infuser meant for mugs and pots at home or the office. It wouldn't fit in a bottle, but in its element — sitting in a mug with its scythe hooked on the rim — it's far more entertaining and has more steeping capacity than most bottle infusers. If you need portable tea, go with an infuser bottle. If you want to enjoy your tea at your desk with a grim reaper staring up at you, the Grim Steeper is your pick.

The Grim Steeper was practically designed for mug use. Fill it with loose tea through the bottom, seal the stopper, and set it in your mug with the scythe hooked over the rim — that's its built-in holder so the reaper hangs at the right depth. It works in standard mugs and oversized mugs alike, though a couple of reviewers note it may be a bit large for very small cups. Pour in your hot water, let it steep, and enjoy watching the little reaper do its thing. When done, lift it out by the scythe and set it aside to drip.

For the Grim Steeper specifically: remove the bottom stopper, spoon in 1-2 teaspoons of loose leaf tea (it has a generous capacity so don't be shy), and press the stopper back in. Drop it in your mug and pour hot water over it. The key is using the right leaf size — thick, whole leaf teas and CTC varieties work best. Very fine or powdery teas like rooibos can escape through the holes. If you're new to loose leaf, the Grim Steeper is actually a great entry point — reviewers say it makes loose leaf tea approachable and fun, and the simple fill-and-steep process is as easy as it gets.

With the Grim Steeper, you fill loose tea through the bottom opening by removing the stopper plug, seal it back up, and submerge the reaper in your hot water. The scythe arm hooks over the edge of your mug so it doesn't fall in completely. Once your tea reaches the strength you want, just lift it out. Give it a quick rinse under the tap — reviewers say cleanup is one of the easiest parts, with no tea leaves getting trapped in the silicone. You can also toss it in the dishwasher.

A tea infuser works by holding loose tea leaves in a perforated container submerged in hot water. The holes let water flow in and out, extracting flavor, color, and aroma from the leaves while keeping most of the leaves contained. The Grim Steeper does this with a twist — literally. The grim reaper's hollow silicone body holds the tea, the holes in the design let water circulate, and the scythe hooks onto your cup rim. It's heavy enough to sink rather than float, so the leaves stay fully submerged for proper steeping. When you use a red tea, it even looks like the reaper is steeping in something appropriately grim.