Recommend a steeping cup?

[saxon75]

Several of my Chinese officemates use piao i teapots, and they seem to be fairly happy with them. Several of them have broken the drain levers on them, but they just use a coffee stirrer or some other stick to open the valve. These have always seemed to me to be about as convenient as it gets.

Here's one on Amazon.
And one from Yunnan Sourcing.

But I guess if you're dead set against anything with plastic in it, these would be a no-go.

[Joel Byron]

I have a Piao I infuser. I use it in the morning sometimes when I don't want to fool with other teaware. It's got a fine strainer so you can brew anything in it. It's good for travel too. I don't use the glass container anymore. I just stick the infuser in a mug. I think a ceramic steeper is probably better for MEversberg's use though. Ceramic will hold heat better for western style steeping.

[jbu2]

I tested that against the teapot from Ocha Tea, and the Ochatea won by about 5 C, it isn't from plastic but from material design for hot beverages, it has a nice shape and easy to clean, this is why i said don't use cylinder tea pots but oval ones, the leaf need to spread and among western tea pots (and i have a lot) i found it to be the best in shape , heat retain and cleaning .

although i might still go for the Piao I for because you can let the leaf dry faster, or so it seems .

[amaranto]

I used to use this at work and now do at home with certain teas: http://jingtea.com/teaware/glass-tea-infuser-mug

I mainly drink Chinese teas, though it also works okay with sencha if you're in a bind. I really love this infuser mug.