The Nessie Family by OTOTO 3-Piece Kitchen Set

It works, but with some caveats. The infuser holds about a tablespoon of loose tea and does a decent job steeping larger-leaf varieties. However, a couple of reviewers note that the holes are a bit too large, so very fine tea leaves can escape into your cup. It can also float or tip over rather than standing upright, depending on your mug. For everyday loose-leaf brewing with standard-sized leaves, it gets the job done — but serious tea enthusiasts who want maximum functionality over charm might prefer a dedicated fine-mesh infuser.

Yes, reviewers confirm the pieces are easy to clean and dishwasher safe, which is a real convenience factor. You don't have to worry about hand-scrubbing tea stains or soup residue out of the Nessie shapes. Just toss them in the dishwasher and they clean up nicely. This is especially helpful for the tea infuser, since loose-leaf tea can leave behind stubborn staining in harder-to-reach spots.

It's really simple. Open the Nessie's body, pack in about a tablespoon of loose-leaf tea, close it up, and drop it into your mug of hot water. The Nessie is designed to stand on its feet at the bottom of your cup, with its long neck poking out — though a couple of reviewers mention it can float or tip over depending on the cup size. Let it steep for the recommended time for your tea type (usually 3-5 minutes), then lift it out by the neck. It's dishwasher safe for easy cleanup, which is a nice bonus.

Stick with larger-leaf varieties for the best results. Whole-leaf green tea, rolled oolong, jasmine pearls, large-cut herbal blends, and chunky fruit teas all work well in the Nessie. The infuser's holes are a bit on the larger side, so very fine teas — think CTC black tea, crushed peppermint, rooibos, or powdery herbal blends — may escape into your cup. If you mostly drink fine-particle teas, you might want a dedicated fine-mesh infuser for those and save the Nessie for your chunkier loose-leaf brews.

Unfortunately, yes — this is one of the most common complaints. Several reviewers mention that the Nessie pieces are top-heavy and can tip over in pots, especially when left standing in liquid. The design looks amazing sitting upright on the edge of a pot, but the tall neck and head make it inherently unbalanced. It works better when you hold it while serving rather than leaving it propped up. It's a trade-off for that adorable dinosaur silhouette.

This is worth mentioning honestly — a couple of reviewers have raised heat resistance concerns, with some worrying about potential melting in very hot water. The pieces are made from a mix of materials (hard plastic and silicone), and not all parts seem equally heat-resistant. For brewing tea, you're generally fine since the infuser is briefly submerged. But for the ladle in boiling soup, you may want to avoid leaving it sitting in the pot for extended periods. It's something to be aware of, especially if you cook at high temperatures.

Smaller than you might expect. The ladle holds approximately 70ml, which is fine for dishing out a few scoops of soup but noticeably smaller than a standard kitchen ladle. Reviewers say it works well for soups, stews, and chili, but if you're serving large portions or feeding a big family, you'll find yourself making more trips back to the pot. It's best suited for single households, small portions, or as a fun secondary ladle alongside a full-sized one.

Surprisingly, yes — within its size limits. Reviewers confirm the green Nessie colander works well for rinsing beans, small pasta shapes, and other small ingredients. It's not a replacement for a full-sized colander, but it fills a nice niche for quick rinse jobs. Think of it as a prep tool rather than a draining-a-full-pot-of-spaghetti tool. Some reviewers did note that the plastic feels a bit thin compared to the other pieces in the set, but it holds up well for its intended small-batch rinsing purpose.

Absolutely — and many reviewers do exactly that. The Nessie pieces create a whimsical kitchen display that doubles as fun conversation starters. Some creative owners have even discovered they make interesting shadow displays with the right lighting. The design is cute enough that people leave them out on counters or shelves as kitchen art. One reviewer even repurposed the large ladle as a dish sponge holder. Just keep in mind that the pieces don't actually nest together well despite looking like they might.

A strainer sits on top of your cup and catches leaves as you pour tea through it, while an infuser holds the leaves inside and steeps directly in the water. The Nessie tea infuser in this OTOTO set is a true infuser — you pack the loose leaves inside the Nessie's body, drop it into your mug, and let it steep. The green colander in the set, on the other hand, works more like a strainer — it's designed for rinsing beans, pasta, and small items rather than steeping tea.

It depends on what you're brewing. For larger loose-leaf teas like oolong or whole-leaf green tea, a novelty infuser like the OTOTO Nessie works well — it holds about 1 tablespoon of loose tea and the design makes steeping fun. However, if you're brewing fine-particle teas like rooibos or crushed peppermint, you'll want a mesh infuser with smaller holes, since a few reviewers noted that tiny leaves can escape through the Nessie's openings. For everyday versatility, a fine-mesh basket infuser is hard to beat, but if you want something that makes you smile every time you brew, the Nessie is in a class of its own.

The Nessie infuser works like any tea infuser — it has small holes throughout its body that let hot water circulate through the loose tea leaves inside, extracting flavor while keeping the leaves contained. What makes it unique is the design: it's shaped like the Loch Ness Monster, so it stands on little feet at the bottom of your cup with its neck and head sticking up for easy removal. The holes are sized for standard loose-leaf teas, though they're a bit large for very fine tea particles.

With the OTOTO Nessie, you just fill it with loose-leaf tea, close it, and place it directly into your favorite mug. The Nessie is designed to sit upright on its feet, though it works best in standard-sized mugs — in wider mugs or pots it may tip over since the design is a bit top-heavy. Pour hot water into the mug, let it steep for 3-5 minutes depending on your tea type, then lift the Nessie out by its neck. It's a fun conversation starter when guests notice a little dinosaur swimming in your tea.

Start by heating your water to the right temperature for your tea — boiling for black tea, around 175°F for green tea. Fill the Nessie infuser with about a tablespoon of loose leaves, close it, and place it in your mug. Pour the hot water over and around the Nessie and let it steep. One thing to keep in mind: the Nessie works best with larger-leaf teas like whole-leaf oolong, jasmine pearls, or chunky herbal blends. Fine-particle teas like CTC black tea or crushed peppermint may escape through the holes, which a couple of reviewers flagged.

The Nessie holds about 1 tablespoon of loose-leaf tea, which is perfect for a single cup. Open the body, add your leaves, and close it securely. It works best with larger-leaf varieties — think whole-leaf green tea, rolled oolong, or chunky herbal blends. For fine teas like rooibos or finely chopped chamomile, you might notice some leaf escape through the holes. Drop the filled Nessie into your mug, add hot water, and steep to your desired strength. The Nessie's playful design makes the whole ritual more enjoyable.