Genuine Fred, MANATEA, Manatee Reusable Silicone Tea Infuser, Blue, Fun Gift for Tea Lovers, Clever Kitchen Gadget

One of my favorite purchases ever. It is adorable and sits nicely on the cup edge as the tea steeps.

My favorite animal is the Manatee. When I found out there was a "punny" tea infuser I had to have it. I drink a lot of tea and haven't had any luck with the ball infusers, whether they are metal or silicone. I usually buy empty, unbleached tea bags for my loose tea (I mostly drink loose leaf tea) and pieces always slipped through. Most of my teas are blends that have fine pieces of herbs or whatnot, and this Manatea infuser doesn't let anything sneak out! He's SO cute hanging on the side of the cup and I can still kind of place my silicone lid over the top of the mug to keep the heat and steam in. If I had a complaint, it's that the top part of the holes is sometimes exposed, so maybe if his head was a little longer he would hang down lower into the mug. I tend to add sugar, honey and sometimes milk if it's a chai and need some extra space at the top so he gets left a little exposed at the top. You also usually need to leave a decent amount of space on top if you're using a thermal mug with a lid. Either way, this little guy brightens my days and works well. I usually rinse him out with warm water and give it a little scrubbing with soap; especially with black teas and Earl Gray as they leave stains and lingering tea odors.

Cute as could be and makes a good cup of tea. My wife loves to see Barbra manatee (cue the veggie tales) hanging from the side of her mug.

Cute gift that is usable. Love how it hangs over the mug.

I decided to get the Manatea since I needed a tea infuser and it cost about the same as a boring one anyway. Being more a kitschy product, I didn't expect it to be outstanding as a tea infuser. Here are my thoughts: Pros: It's cheap, and an adorable manatee for God's sake! Every co-worker who has seen me using it has gotten a huge grin on their face. It certainly makes tea breaks more fun. Cons: It is hard for me to clean. I think this has more to do with the fact that I haven't gotten down the correct amount of tea to stuff it with and it tends to be overfilled. As a result, the leaves puff up and get squished into every nook and cranny. Also, emptying it at the office is kinda awkward because it looks like I am squeezing guts out of something that resembles a baby fish. But hey, that is the calculated risk you take when you purchase a manatee.

Along with being cute, this tea infuser holds a good amount of tea leaves--essential if you make tea in big mugs. Because it's flexible, it's easy to clean, and it's just fun to have.

My granddaughter loves both of them

This cute little manatee is the perfect tea-time friend, especially on these cold autumn mornings. This little guy sits at the edge of your mug with a happy smile while you enjoy your tea (earl gray, hot). While he'd fit perfectly on an average-sized mug, he might not fit in one of your shorter cups due to his long tail. As for infusing, he's great! Whether you're using fine or large tea leaves, the filter holes are just the right size for any leaf. While there may be a few bits that escape, it's not enough for it to be a problem for me. He's easy to clean since he's dishwasher safe (although I prefer to wash him by hand) and he's easy to store; just put him back in the box he came in! One thing though, if your mug is small, this infuser might bump agains't your nose when you take a sip (or if you're like me, he'll bump against your glasses!), but since he's made out of soft silicone, it's not a problem. To make a long story short, I love absolutely love this infuser.

Normal quality. The tea goes through the holes. Would not recommend.

De toda la línea de Fred, es mi infusor favorito. No sólo por su tamaño correcto, durabilidad y fácil limpieza. Si no porque los manaties son de las criaturas endémicas más hermosas y menos conocidas del país. Los manaties (no los confundas con las vaquitas marinas) son mamíferos herbívoros que podemos encontrar en las regiones del golfo y sur de México. Son seres dóciles, amenos y misteriosos. Incluso, solían verse en el canal de Xochimilco; pero debido al crecimiento urbano, contaminación y rumores tontos se terminaron. Hoy en día se encuentran en peligro debido a que sus hábitats se están exterminando. Prefieren vivir en aquellas concentraciones de aguas dulces cerca del mar. Lo cual, debido al turismo, los pone en una situación difícil. Como podrás ver, los manaties son de mis animales favoritos, lo cuál hace muy poco objetiva esta reseña; pero si a ti también te gustan, te invito a que los conozcas y cuides. P.D. Usa este infusor para hacer té verde, hará más feliz a tu manatea ;)

É muito lindo e maior que o infusor de bonequinho! AMEI!!!

Se lo regalé a mi hermana y le encantó. Es muy gracioso.

This cheery chappy is easy to fill with tea and then sits easily on your cup or mug to give you a lovely cup of tea. Many comments on how cute 'he' is and so easy both to fill and empty. Easily cleaned too. Well worth a buy!