Tea timers are a novel and easy way to ensure that you don’t over-steep your tea.
They are inspired by hourglass sand timers, and although they are specifically intended for use with tea, the method to using a tea timer is very much the same.
There is a very specific amount of sand in a tea timer, which accurately correlates with the proper brew time.
This is why you can find tea timers intended for use with different types of tea, such as black tea, green tea, or tisanes. Each type of tea which requires a different brew time would require a different tea timer.
To use a tea timer, simply place your tea into hot water and turn the tea timer upside down so that the sand begins to drop into the lower chamber. Once all of the sand has dropped, then it is time to remove the teabag or tea leaves from the hot water.