Tea strainers are used to filter loose tea leaves from brewed tea, as the leaves themselves may be distasteful. A tea strainer fits over or inside a teacup to catch leaves when pouring tea that has been brewed in a teapot without a teabag. Some deeper tea strainers can also brew individual cups of tea by placing the strainer filled with leaves directly in a cup, and removing it along with the spent leaves once brewed to allow the same leaves to brew multiple cups.