I love bringing my tea infuser bottle with me wherever I go, so I always have tea with me. I put this article together to look at some of the best options on the market.
The best portable tea thermos and best infuser bottle for most people’s needs is the Contigo Autoseal West Loop Travel Mug + Contigo Infuser. Another great option, and our top choice for glass infuser bottles was the Pure Zen Tumbler. Some other good choices include the Bamboo Tumbler by LeafLife if you want a bamboo plated exterior, or the Vibrant Travel Mug if you are on a budget.
If you would like to see all the tea infuser bottles I reviewed, check out the comparison table below.
This item isn’t a single infuser bottle, but is instead a combination of a tea thermos and infuser accessory. The Contigo thermos has a mechanism that allows you to press a button and drink straight from the lid. This combination can be great if you want to be able to brew tea and drink from the thermos without having to remove the lid. It’s also easy to clean.
Our Rating: 9.4/10
Read Our Review
This infuser is absolutely beautiful to look at. Glass bottles are awesome because you can see exactly what you’re brewing. This creates a much more elegant experience than a tea thermos. Another benefit of glass is that it is easy to clean.
Our Rating: 9.3/10
Read Our Review
This bottle is both beautiful and practical. The exterior has a comfortable matte finish that won’t slip out of your hand and the bottle is both durable and light. The bottle is made out of a vacuum insulated stainless steel that is non-toxic and will keep your drinks hot or cold for hours at a time.
Our Rating: 9.2/10
Read Our Review
I scoured the web to look at as many different reviews and overviews as possible to find the best portable tea infuser bottle. Then I took that info and compiled the info into a mega guide. I ended up picking two top choices since glass infuser bottles and tea thermos tumblers are almost in categories of their own. One of them is a stainless steel tea tumbler and the other is a double-walled glass infuser bottle. Glass bottles look great and allow you to see what you’re about to drink, but they can crack and don’t retain heat as long. A stainless steel thermos will keep your tea hot all day, but they can be hard to clean and don’t look as cool.
Table of Contents
Tea Infuser Bottle Comparison Table
| Tea Infuser Bottle | Amazon Rating | Our Rating | Bottle Type | Capacity | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contigo WestLoop + Infuser Accessory +  | Bottle: (4.7 rating, 76,786 reviews) Accessory: (4.6 rating, 1,909 reviews) | 9.4/10 (Combined) 9.5/10 (Bottle) 9.2/10 (Accessory) Read Our Review | Vacuum insulated stainless steel | 20 oz/ 590 ml | Bottle: $34.99 Buy on Amazon Accessory: $12.25 Buy on Amazon |
| Pure Zen Tumbler | (4.5 rating, 3,972 reviews) | 9.3/10 Read Our Review | Double walled glass | 13 oz/ 385 ml | $35.95 Buy on Amazon |
| Vibrant Travel Mug | (4.6 rating, 665 reviews) | 9.2/10 Read Our Review | Vacuum insulated stainless steel | 16.9 oz/ 500 ml | $24.99 Buy on Amazon |
Sacred Glass Tumbler | (4.5 rating, 2,224 reviews) | 9.2/10 Read Our Review | Double walled glass | 14 oz/ 415 ml | $34.99 Buy on Amazon |
Bamboo Tumbler by LeafLife | (4.6 rating, 4,497 reviews) | 9.2/10 Read Our Review | Vacuum insulated stainless steel | 17 oz/ 500 ml | $29.99 Buy on Amazon |
Cloud9 Thermos with Infuser | (4.3 rating, 157 reviews) | 9.0/10 Read Our Review | Vacuum insulated stainless steel | 15 oz/ 445 ml | $29.95 Buy on Amazon |
Original Tea Infuser Bottle by UEndure | (4.4 rating, 1,939 reviews) | 8.7/10 Read Our Review | Double walled glass | 14 oz/ 415 ml | $32.99 Buy on Amazon |
Zojiroshi Travel Mug | (4.5 rating, 968 reviews) | 8.6/10 Read Our Review | Vacuum insulated stainless steel | 16 oz/ 475 ml | $42.00 Buy on Amazon |
Lotus Glass Tea Tumbler | (4.5 rating, 1,495 reviews) | 8.3/10 Read Our Review | Double walled glass | 15 oz/ 445 ml | $34.99 Buy on Amazon |
Glass Bottles vs Thermos Bottles
Sometimes it can be hard to pick which type of material to get for your tea tumbler. I wanted to cover some of the major points to help you decide. Each type has their own benefits and concerns. They do share some benefits. Both glass and stainless steel are non-toxic and free of the BPA chemicals you would get in a plastic infuser bottle.
Glass Tea Infuser Bottles
Glass tea infuser bottles are by far the most beautiful type of bottle you can get. Not only do they look sleek and elegant, they allow you to see exactly what you’re brewing. This is a benefit you simply don’t get with a stainless steel thermos. If you want to see inside a metal canister, good luck. You can open the lid and look inside but it will still be too dark to actually see any details. With a glass bottle this becomes a non-issue and you can see any accumulations of tea in the bottle in an instant.
In addition to being fun to look at, glass is also dishwasher safe and easy to wash. If you opt to hand wash, it will be easy enough to spot any stains inside the bottle that may need extra attention.
Glass does have its downsides though. First and foremost, it can crack and shatter. We all like to assume that we will never drop our tea bottle, but accidents happen. And when a glass bottle breaks, it sends hundreds of shards flying in every direction. If you have children around this can be a safety concern. In addition to breaking from a fall, glass susceptible to thermal shock. This can happen when you pour boiling hot water into a cold glass bottle. The temperature difference creates a crack in the crystalline structure of the glass. One way to get around this is to rinse the glass with warm water before pouring boiling water in.
If you are aware of the fragile nature of glass and are willing to accept that risk, glass can make a great option for a portable tea tumbler.
Tea Thermos Infuser Bottles
Tea thermos infusers are king at keeping your drink hot or cold for hours at a time. The reason for this is the vacuum sealed layer that surrounds your drink in a thermos. In a vacuum, there is nowhere for heat to disperse into. The only way for heat to dissipate in a thermos is through the thin steel walls or out through the lid. Any tea thermos worth its money will keep your drink piping hot for more than 4 hours. In fact, many people burn themselves after opening their thermos hours later only to find the tea or coffee they made in the morning is still hot. I recommend keeping your lid off for 5-10 minutes after you pour boiling water into your tea thermos. This will allow it to cool to a drinkable temperature.
Metal thermos bottles also have the advantage of being able to take a beating. A drop or two may leave a dent in the side, but you will still be able to use the thermos. This is great if you have children around or are constantly on the go.
If you want an infuser bottle that will keep your drink hot and can take a beating, there is no better option than a vacuum insulated stainless steel.
Best Pick #1: Contigo Autoseal West Loop Travel Mug + Contigo West Loop Infuser
Our Rating: 9.4/10
Details
- 20 oz/590 ml capacity
- Vacuum insulated stainless steel
Pros
- Allows you to brew tea and drink it at the same time
- Ergonomic thermos design
- Dishwasher safe and easy to wash
- Comes with drip cup for tea infuser when it is not being used
- Fits relatively easy to mug
Cons
- Bottle can give off a plastic taste from the lid
- Relatively small brewing area. Not much room for leaves to expand
- Drip cup is not watertight and can’t be stored in a bag
- Lid mechanism can sometimes break or malfunction
Description
This item isn’t a single infuser bottle, but is instead a combination of a tea thermos and infuser accessory. The Contigo thermos has a mechanism that allows you to press a button and drink straight from the lid. This combination can be great if you want to be able to brew tea and drink from the thermos without having to remove the lid. It’s also easy to clean.
The bottle itself is made from stainless steel and does a good job at keeping your tea or coffee hot for many hours.
While the lid is convenient, there are a number of plastic parts that may leech into your drink and affect the taste. Also, the complicated mechanism in the lid can sometimes break or malfunction. Luckily, each piece of this setup is dishwasher safe and relatively easy to clean.
The main downside with this combination is that the brewing area is quite small. It doesn’t allow you to add much tea to the infuser and the leaves themselves don’t have much space to expand. Also, since the infuser hangs from the top, once your tea gets below the infuser it will stop infusing.
This combination is not a bad option if you want a well designed tea thermos and don’t mind the small brewing space. However, since the thermos and infuser are separate components, you will have to buy them separately. This puts this tea thermos a bit on the pricier side.
Best Pick #2: Pure Zen Tumbler
Details
- 13 oz/385 ml capacity
- Double walled glass
Pros
- Beautiful design
- Great customer service
- Infuser can attach to either lid
- Easy to wash
- Good build quality
Cons
- Many complaints of leaking
- Glass can crack/break
- Water can get into lids if put in dishwasher
Summary
This infuser is absolutely beautiful to look at. Glass bottles are awesome because you can see exactly what you’re brewing and it creates a much more elegant experience than a tea thermos. There’s something special about being able to watch your tea leaves swirl around in your bottle as they brew. This is something you simply don’t get with a thermos. The geometric patterns drawn on the outside of the bottle also add a nice touch without feeling like the company is trying to use the bottle as an advertisement.
Another benefit of glass is that it is easy to clean. You can remove the lids of this bottle and throw it directly into the dishwasher. You may want to hand-wash the lids because water can get into the nooks and crannies of the lid and create rust.
The double walled glass does a better job of single walled glass at keeping heat in, but it is still not as effective as a thermos. You can expect your tea to stay hot for a few hours. For most people this will be fine. A thermos can almost be overkill in some situations. For example, you make your tea in the morning and then later in the afternoon end up burning your mouth because the tea hasn’t cooled much at all. A double walled glass tumbler strikes a good balance between two extremes.
Downsides
Keep in mind that while glass is beautiful to look at, it can break and crack. The bottle is made out of regular glass, so if you pour boiling water into it while the glass is cold, it can create a crack from the temperature shock. A good remedy for this is to rinse the bottle with warm water before pouring hot water in. Besides the heat, any kind of fall is likely to shatter the glass as well.
Conclusion
Overall, this is a beautiful bottle that will not disappoint. As long as you are okay with accepting the risk of a glass bottle and you treat it with care, this bottle will last a long time. As mentioned with our other top pick, there are several details that would be nice to see in a bottle like this. A finer mesh that made sure no tea particles leaked out would be better than the holed approach. But all things considered, this is the best glass infuser bottle available today.
Budget Pick: Vibrant Travel Mug
Details
- 16.9 oz/500 ml capacity
- Vacuum insulated stainless steel body
Pros
- Simple – only 3 parts
- Dual Strainer/infuser
- Matte, non-slip finish
- Not heavy
- Good customer service
- Insulation works well
- Mesh keeps tea leaves out
Cons
- Lid has to be opened to drink
- Lid occasionally gets stuck
- Not dishwasher safe
Summary
This bottle is both beautiful and practical. The bottle is made out of a vacuum insulated stainless steel that is non-toxic and will keep your drinks hot or cold for hours at a time. There are only three parts to keep track of so you don’t have to worry about constantly screwing/unscrewing pieces.
Besides the lid, there are only two parts: the strainer and the steeper. You can put tea or fruit directly into the mug and just use the strainer, or you can fill the steeper with tea and use both the strainer and the steeper. Both do a reasonable job of keeping tea out.
The exterior has a comfortable matte finish that won’t slip out of your hand and the bottle is both durable and light. A good grip is important if you carry your bottle around with you throughout the day. You also want the bottle to fit nicely in your hand. This is one of those simple pleasures of life.
The bottle is also the perfect size to carry around in a travel backpack or suitcase. It will also fit in most car holders for your daily commute. At 16.9 oz/500 ml it will hold a days worth of tea or coffee but is still small enough to easily carry around.
Downsides
The downsides of this bottle are that it is somewhat difficult to drink from. The lid has to be removed because there is no mouthpiece to sip from. On the other hand, this keeps the lid simple and makes it easier to clean
Another thing to keep an eye out with these types of containers is that as the liquid cools over time, it can create a pressure differential between the inside and outside of the bottle. This makes the lid suctioned to the top and can be hard to unscrew.
Conclusion
I picked this bottle as our top choice because it strikes a good balance between utility and simplicity and is reasonably priced. There are a few extra things I would like to see in a bottle like this. A finer mesh on the strainer and potentially a lid you can drink from without having to remove would be fantastic. But nothing else on the market has a better balance of features so this bottle takes home the crown.
What is a Tea Infuser Bottle?
A tea infuser bottle is any thermos, bottle, travel mug, etc, that has the ability to infuse and filter tea leaves. There are two main methods by which tea is filtered. The first is through a strainer. Your tea leaves are placed in the bottle itself and the strainer is placed near the top of the bottle. As you drink, liquid flows past the strainer and the leaves get caught. Another method is through a separate infuser chamber. This chamber can be either at the top of the mug or the bottom and is self contained. When you want to infuse tea you fill this chamber with tea and pour hot water into the mug. Some mugs have the option to remove this chamber once your tea is done brewing. Others require the tea to infuse until all liquid has been drunk.
Portable Tea Infuser Bottles vs Tea Infuser Mugs
Both tea infuser mugs and portable tea infuser bottles have several things in common. They both infuse tea, keep tea hot, and make tea easy to drink. There are also glass options for both. But, there are a number of differences that will influence your decision on which to buy.
Portable Tea Infuser Bottles
Tea infuser bottles have strainers or an infuser that must be kept in. Your loose leaf tea goes directly into the bottle or into the infuser and stays there until you are done drinking tea. However, some infuser bottles do have designs that make it easier to remove the infuser.
Most portable tea infuser bottles are made of vacuum insulated stainless steel instead of ceramic. This vacuum insulation keeps your drink hot for many hours. Tea infuser bottles also usually have screw on lids that stay secure and prevent leaking.
Portable tea infuser bottles are made for travel. They fit perfect in most car cup holders, keep your tea hot for hours, and have screw on lids to prevent leaks and spills. These traits make them great on the road but would be annoying if you only drink tea at home.
Tea Infuser Mugs
Tea infuser mugs have an infuser that rests in the mug. When you want to brew tea, you place loose leaf into the infuser and not the mug. And it’s easy enough to remove the infuser when your tea is done brewing. Tea infuser bottles often make it hard or impossible to remove your tea and it may become over steeped.
Tea infuser mugs are also generally made of ceramic. Most of them have lids that rest on top. These lids are not secure and can slip off if you’re not careful. A number of the mugs are more traditional and have a ceramic handle. Several mugs get around this by having a double-walled ceramic design with a gap of air in between. This keeps the tea hotter longer and allows you to hold the mug without burning yourself.
By and large, tea infuser mugs are made for home use. Many of them are too wide to fit in car cup holders and have lids that slip off easily.
Which One Should I Buy
Tea infuser bottles are a great option for anyone who wants to bring their tea with them on the go. This could mean on your daily commute to the office, while you travel around, or while camping or hiking. Check out the comparison table to see each bottle that was reviewed.
Buy a tea infuser mug if you drink your tea at home and don’t bring it out often. They are simpler to use and easier to clean. I wrote an in-depth guide to help you pick the best choice for your needs. Check that out here.
There is one exception to this. If you want a ceramic mug that can be used on the go, there are several options that I covered in our other guide. Ceramic travel mugs generally have a silicone lid that attaches to the top. Our recommendation for a ceramic travel mug is the Herringbone Double-Walled Tea Cup. Some other choices include the Steep & Strain Ceramic Tea Mug or the BZY1 Glass Tea Cup with a screw on lid.
Care and Maintenance
Caring for your tea infuser bottle and keeping it clean as time goes on is important. There are certain types of bottles that are not dishwasher safe and must be hand cleaned. The instructions your infuser bottle comes with should let you know whether it must be hand washed. Some general guidelines are that bamboo and bamboo plating should not be dishwashed as it can lead to cracking. Dishwashing can also dissolve logo or design paint on the outside of your tea bottle over time. Hand washing takes more time but it can make your bottle last longer.
If you opt to hand wash you tumbler you may want to get a long scrubber brush to reach far inside the bottle itself. A bottle brush is the best option for this.
How I Picked The Results
In my quest to uncover the best options for portable tea infuser bottles I did quite a bit of research. I visited other buyers guides and explored their options and opinions. I also searched through amazon and google to find existing popular options. Once I had a sizable list, I checked the product details to get a rough overview of each bottle. Then, I dove through the reviews to see what other customers had to say. Once I had info on each of the popular options available on the market I compared the benefits and flaws of each option, keeping in mind what each reviewer had to say. From this comparison I was able to create this list and rank each bottle on it’s overall performance.
Tea Thermoses
Cloud9 Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Thermos
Details
- 15 oz/445 ml capacity
- Vacuum insulated stainless steel
Pros
- Tight seal that doesn’t leak
- Fits well in hand, no condensation, good grip
- Retains temperature for many hours
- Made in the USA
- Stainless steel with no toxic chemicals
- Sleek design with beautiful blue paint and a discrete logo
- Makes a great gift for a tea-drinking family member
Cons
- Screw-top lid that is not attached
Description
This bottle from Cloud9 is essentially a thermos with a screw-on cap. The screw-on cap creates a very tight seal that is unlikely to leak, but the fact that it is not attached to the bottle is a turn off for many. It is made of non-toxic stainless steel and features a vacuum insulation that keeps liquids hot for hours.
It comes with an attachable tea strainer, but the holes are rather large. A finer tea would likely slip through into your bottle. If you have a large loose leaf or don’t care about leaves in your tea then this isn’t a big deal.
I love the design of this bottle and the blue coloring. It feels comfortable in your hands and has a sleek shape. Their logo is small and discrete and doesn’t take away from the appearance of the bottle.
Overall, this is a solid choice for a portable tea tumbler. The only concerns that may turn you off from this bottle are the large holes in the tea strainer, and the non-attached cap.
Zojirushi SM-JTE46AD Travel Mug
Details
- 16 oz/475 ml capacity
- Vacuum insulated stainless steel
Pros
- Keeps tea hot for many hours
- Leave open after brewing to let tea cool
- Durable and can take a fall
- Solid build quality
- Decent design and nice color
- Fits well in hand
Cons
- Occasional leaking
- Holes around tea filter sometimes allows smaller leaves through
- Not microwave or dishwasher safe
- Lid has to be removed to drink from
- Several parts in the lid to be hand cleaned
- Slippery finish
- Somewhat pricey compared to other bottles
Description
If you need to keep your tea as hot as possible for as long as possible, this is the best option. In fact, many people have complained that this bottle keeps liquids too hot. They pour their tea in the morning and end up burning their mouth later on in the afternoon. The best way around this is to let your tea cool a bit before you put the lid back on.
This bottle has a sleek design with a nice blue color and glossy finish. The build quality is good and overall this thermos is durable. However, some users have complained about leaking unless all parts of the cap are properly aligned. This isn’t the largest tea thermos in the world, but it does fit well in the hand.
One downside is that this tea infuser bottle has a number of parts and a slightly complicated design. Coupled with the fact that it is not dishwasher safe, this bottle can be annoying to clean.
Another potential downside is that there is no easy-access mouthpiece and the cap must be removed to drink from. It may be more convenient for some to use this bottle as a thermos and pour the liquid into a teacup when you are ready to drink.
The tea filter consists of a mesh strainer and several small holes to let water in better. Your tea goes directly into the bottle and then the strainer filters the leaves as you drink. A few people complained that small tea leaves can slip through a set of slightly larger holes around the tea strainer.
Bamboo Tumbler with Tea Infuser by LeafLife
Details
- 17 oz/500 ml capacity
- Vacuum insulated stainless steel
Pros
- Sleek and elegant design
- Sturdy
- Doesn’t leak
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- Bamboo exterior can come loose with extended use
- Lid is not insulated and can get hot
Description
This bamboo coated stainless steel tumbler has a sleek and natural looking design, and shows off the true beauty of the bamboo wood. The bamboo exterior and overall design feel sturdy when held in the hand. This bottle also comes with a separate tea strainer and infuser. By placing the strainer over the top, you can brew tea directly in the bottle. Or to keep the leaves separate, you can place them in the larger infuser basket. Because of the bamboo exterior this bottle is not dishwasher safe and can sometimes be a pain to wash.
Glass Tea Infuser Bottles
Sacred Glass Tumbler with Infuser
Details
- 14 oz/415 ml capacity
- Double walled glass bottle
Pros
- Stunningly beautiful
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Doesn’t keep tea hot as long as a tea thermos. Sleeve helps a bit
- Tea can leak out of prongs that hold strainer to the glass
- Glass can crack – not borosilicate
- Lids occasionally rust
Description
The Sacred Glass Tea Tumbler is another beautiful infuser bottle that will capture the eye of anyone that sees it. The infuser screws onto the metal lid and can attach to either side. The glass bottle itself is easy to wash, but you may want to hand wash the lids. Some users have had issues with the bottle cracking or leaking, but their customer service is responsive and will get you a new bottle if you have an issue with yours. While it is a bit on the pricier side, the bottle and lids are both high quality and this tea infuser bottle will not disappoint.
The Original Tea Infuser Bottle by UEndure
Details
- 14 oz/415 ml capacity
- Double walled glass
Pros
- Removable basket
- Both ends are removable
- Beautifully designed bottle that will catch people’s eyes wherever you go
- Easy to clean
- Fits well in hand and in car cup holders
Cons
- Build quality could be better
- Since its glass, prone to cracking
- Occasional leaking from caps and around the seals/plastic gaskets. esp if liquid is hot
- Metal caps can come undone from the rubber because its not glued well
- Some complaints of tea leaking into bottle
Description
This bottle features a beautiful glass design and comes with a carrying sleeve. There are caps that screw onto both ends and a metal holed infuser that snaps onto the bottom cap. You can load tea into the infuser and let it infuse while you drink. Neither cap has a mouth piece, so one has to be removed before you can drink.
The biggest advantage of this bottle is it’s design. Glass bottles are just cool to look at and they allow you to see exactly what you’re about to drink. However, with glass there is always the risk of a crack from dropping it or from temperature shock. On cold days I recommend rinsing the bottle with warm water before pouring hot tea in.
Unfortunately, many of their customers have had issues with the build quality. The rubber seals on each cap aren’t well designed and can cause leaking. Since there are caps on both end, there is the possibility of liquid leaking from the bottom. In addition, the glue that attaches the metal exterior of the cap to it’s rubber interior is weak and can come off after extended use.
Lotus Glass Tea Tumbler with Infuser
Details
- 15 oz/445 ml capacity
- Double walled glass
Pros
- Elegant design
- No toxic materials
- Comes with both a tea infuser and a strainer
Cons
- Glass can crack or break
- Bamboo lid must be hand washed
Description
The design of this bottle is elegant and simple and is truly a piece of art. The build materials and infuser pieces are very similar to the Nalu Inspire bottle reviewed above. It comes with a bamboo lid as well as a tea infuser and strainer. You can either use the strainer alone and brew tea in the bottle to give your leaves plenty of room to expand, or you can combine the strainer with the infuser and keep your leaves separate.
Keep in mind as well with this bottle that glass is fragile and can break or crack if dropped or exposed to temperature shock. Exposing the bamboo portion of the lid to moisture such as by placing it in the dishwasher is also likely to crack or break it. If you are okay with the fragile nature of this bottle, it can make a great choice and a beautiful tea tumbler to bring around with you.
Last update on 2022-10-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
