Customer Reviews

WMF Large Stainless Teaball with Screen

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was very disappointed with this teaball. It is not readily apparent from the picture but this product is actually shaped like a small cylinder, 3cm high with ~ a 6cm diameter. The cylinder twists apart in the middle to open. The problem is that first of all it is not tall enough to grasp firmly and has no 'handle' points, and second the actual locking mechanism is simply based on a push and twist design, but the metal parts do not fit together properly and are very hard to twist. Wrenching the teaball seems a good way to get tea all over the floor.

In fact, this first day I received the teaball I practiced opening it several times and eventually it became stuck, I was unable to open it until the next morning. Even if my particular product was somehow bent I cannot see how this mechanism could hold up to repeated use.

Hopefully Amazon will have another teaball soon.

This tea ball makes it simple to enjoy loose teas. The stainless steel design and little hook make it a cute ornament for the utensil rack when not in use. The large size makes it perfect for brewing a pot of tea, but a little impractical for a single mug. Cleanu-up is a snap - just twist, dump, and rinse. It's about as wide as a soda can, so you might want to check out your favorite tea-pot's mouth to be sure it will fit.

I brew Twinings English Breakfast, which tends to have pretty small leaves and find this teaball lets a good bit of tiny leaves through, but they all seem to do this. To combat that, I fill the cup or pot with water and then immerse the ball. That helps.

That said, this particular ball is too darned big for any other than the huge mug. It does fit into my two favorite teapots, but only just. Make sure you have a wide opening on your pot, or you'll be wrestling it out. The title says it--LARGE stainless teaball!

I had no problems opening this teaball.

First, make sure you read the specifications before you buy this product. It clearly says "large". The actual item is 2-1/2" in diameter, and 1-1/8" tall when closed. It has a 6" chain and hook. Measure your mug or whatever vessel you intend to use to make sure it will fit.

With that said, this teaball does an adquate job of steeping tea leaves in a large mug or pot. I can easily load enough tea leaves for a quart or more and just steep this one tea ball instead of several bags.

The ball opens and closes with an engage-and-twist mechanism. I've never had a problem with opening or closing it, or having it leak. Since it opens completely, dumping out the used leaves is a breeze. It is easily washed by hand or in the dishwasher.

Given its relatively large thickness, it's not the greatest at diffusion. If you pack it too tightly, it takes a long time for all of the goodness to diffuse out. With its design, it's nearly impossible to fill it more than halfway, and I usually limit myself to filling the smaller part at the maximum. This allows the leaves to move about within the ball. In addition, since the screens are at the top and bottom, it's more efficient if it's set on its side rather than flat.

The chain is long enough for a mug, but since it's really a pot teaball, a longer one would have been nice. The teaball also functions well for spices in soups and the like where you want flavor but don't want to pick out whole cloves and bay leaves from the finish product at the end.

The screen and finish seem to be stainless as I have not seen any rusting or staining.

In short, if you're making one cup of tea, get a smaller one. If you tend to make a pot at once then get this one.

This makes a wonderful infuser for spices. I insert a hot pepper to add heat to soups and stews. When the food is hot enough, I remove the infuser. I also use it for infusing other spices such as star anise, which can get overpowering. Remember tying spices in cheese cloth? The large teaball can take its place.

I bought this teaball in spite of the bad review it received from one customer. I'm not sorry I did. It is a nice large teaball and is great for pitchers of iced tea. I had no trouble with the mechanism and, in fact, was plesantly surprised at how well it worked. I concede, however, that if you have compromised dexterity due to arthritis this may not be a perfect choice.

I really wanted this product to work. I love the simplicity of the design and I was planning on giving two of these as gifts. Sadly, as other reviewers have stated, the locking mechanism does not work properly. The two halves practically fall apart. The bumps/grooves are not pronounced enough to keep them attached.

WMF really should try to correct this issue, because if the unit stayed shut, I'd easily give it 5 stars.

This item is a must-have for someone who enjoys tea. The chain and hook are perfect for use in either a single cup of tea or making an entire pot. It is also just the right size for the most of the tea leaves I prefer to use. I highly reccomend this particular teaball.

This teaball is made to last forever! The recipent is very happy with it's performance. Too bad it didn't arrive in time for Christmas (it was supposed to be a stocking stuffer).

The catch is a little soft, a little shallow. Easy to miss or overtighten, which can be a pain during clean-up.