@Sherr:

Depends. If I make green tea and am feeling lazy (or have lost my teapot...) then sometimes I just put the leaves in a mug and add water - they tend to sink after a while and then it is easy enough to drink the tea. My teapot doesn't have a filter in anyway, so if I use loose tea I have to pour it through a tea strainer (you know, like a mini sieve).

I have a little tea infuser, or I think that is what it is called. A little metal box with holes in on the end of a chain. It is really cute! In the shape of a tea-pot ^^ But green tea leaves tend to be too big once they swell up and so don't infuse well. And black tea tends to fall out the holes before it has a chance to brew...

@Kaerlyn:

I don't think there is a need to strain it because the tea infuser pretty much does all the work. I mean, the tea in your cup is not supposed to have anything floating around at all, haha.

Wait a second… you drink tea with the leaves floating around in it?

I'm doubtful that i'll ever find any of that tea, but would you suggest straining it after brewing? Usually I don't bother when I make green tea, but I'd assume the bits of corn float around... Sounds interesting though ^^