Why does my green tea infuser drain so slowly?

If an infuser drains much more slowly than it used to, look at the filter before changing the tea recipe. Fine leaf particles can collect against the openings, while a basket crowded with leaves may have little clear area for liquid to escape. The useful first test is whether the empty, clean filter also drains slowly.

Do that test with cool water over a sink. It is easier to observe safely, and it separates a problem with the hardware from a problem that only appears when tea is added.

Compare the empty and loaded filter

Rinse the empty basket and check both sides of the mesh in good light. Follow the manufacturer's cleaning directions for its material. Do not scrape fine mesh with a sharp implement or assume that every pot tolerates abrasive cleaner, dishwasher heat or soaking.

If the empty filter drains normally, repeat the next brew with your usual measured leaf quantity. Notice where the leaves collect when you lift or pour. If they form a dense mat over one small outlet, a slower controlled pour may be more useful than shaking the vessel.

Check whether you changed tea

A new packet may contain a different proportion of fine particles even when it shares the same broad tea name. That can change how it behaves in your existing pot. It does not automatically mean the packet is defective.

Hibiki-an's kyusu product explanation discusses the balance between retaining small leaves and a filter that blocks easily. Use that as a design consideration when comparing pots, rather than assuming that the finest possible mesh is always best.

Keep sediment and blockage separate

Some small particles reaching the cup and a pot that will barely pour are different issues. A little sediment may be acceptable to you; a clogged outlet that prevents you from separating the drink from the leaves changes the brew.

If clarity matters, strain the poured tea through a separate suitable strainer. Do not force a blocked teapot by tipping it dangerously far or shaking it over the cup. Stop, set it down securely and let it cool enough to handle safely before investigating.

Test one modest change

For an invented example, suppose a basket works with 3 g but drains poorly with 6 g in the same mug. Try the smaller dose again with the same volume and note both the pour and the flavour. That comparison tests whether crowding contributes to your problem.

If the smaller dose tastes too weak, a larger basket or a different brewing vessel may be the better solution. Extending the steep indefinitely to compensate for undersized equipment can create another problem. Choose a basket that fits securely and leaves room for water to move through the leaf.

Record the draining time as part of the routine

Note whether the basket clears promptly, takes much longer than usual or retains a puddle. If your recipe says one minute but draining takes an unpredictable extra minute, the cup will be difficult to repeat.

Once the filter behaves normally, return to the packet's recipe and judge the taste again. Do not carry over several earlier timing adjustments made while the outlet was blocked.