For tea lovers who like their cuppa made with loose leaves instead of from a tea bag, the company Dreamfarm offers a nifty little gadget called a Teafu (short for “tea infuser’’). It springs open with the push of a button, and its double-sided silicone pod lets you scoop up just the right amount of tea. An improvement on the metal tea balls of yore, Teafu allows you to squeeze during brewing for a quick infusion, or steep normally before extracting the last essence of brew. And after every drop of tea is in your cup, you can stand the Teafu upright on the table — no messy drips. It is fun to use and it makes a great cup of tea. With eight vibrant colors and a sculptural design, it needn’t hide away in the utensil drawer. Available at Duck Soup, 365 Boston Post Road, Sudbury, 978-443-3825, www.quackquackquack.com; Tags Hardware, 29 White St., Porter Square, Cambridge, 617-868-7711, www.tagshardware .com; or go to www.dream farm.com.KAREN CAMPBELL

Karen Campbell can be reached at karencampbell4@rcn.com.