You’ll never get great results from the itty-bitty ball-shaped strainers that clutter up many a cutlery drawer — tea leaves need space to unfurl and infuse. Instead, opt for a teapot with a built-in strainer – Bodum’s MOMA assam version comes in cheering colourways (▲ £40, selfridges.com), while the sturdy ceramic ForLife Stump teapot (£28.95, teapeople.co.uk) is widely used in cafés like e5 Bakehouse in northeast London. Otherwise a large infuser basket — avoid plastic, which can hold flavours — works well (£10, birdandblendtea.com), or fill good-quality paper tea bags with leaves (£5 for 100, adagiotea.co.uk).