Review on 🌙 TANG PIN Moon Deer Ceramic Tea Mug with Infuser and Lid - 14.5 OZ, Black & Blue by Andrew Dickens

Full Disclosure - I will be reimbursed for this product in exchange for my honest review, so let's get to the point. MATERIALS: The mug arrived in a securely packed box with no visible damage. It consists of a lid, a cup for brewing tea and the mug itself. With the exception of the strainer and handle, all parts are made of heavy textured ceramic, which feels very good in the hand. The handle appears to be made from a smooth, dense composite material that mimics wood, but it certainly isn't. I've noticed other reviews mentioning that the adhesive sticks out of the handle - I don't have this problem and it stays in place securely. Without fatal surgery on the brew cup, it's hard to tell what mechanism is holding the strainer in place. It doesn't look like it's any kind of glue - I think the mesh piece is bonded to the clay before the pottery is fired. I have washed the mug and other items in the dishwasher several times and they are holding up very well. I don't have much experience with other products but the mug I received seems to be of premium quality - only time will tell its durability. Ease of Use: The main reason I decided to look for this type of tea mug is because I'm tired. Play around with these balls for straining loose tea. Maybe I'm just special, but they're difficult to clean and don't filter the tea well. Anyway, this mug basically solved the problems I was having. The mesh filters out almost all large leaf pieces, leaving only tiny dust particles/fans, which is to be expected. The large volume (compared to metal balls) of the brewing cup allows for a more even brewing of the tea and a more balanced tea taste. The mug is very easy to care for and, as already mentioned, has survived several washes. Note that the brewing cup can become very hot if the water temperature is high. So remove it carefully. ERGONOMICS: I'm not a big fan of the handle design, but before settling on this particular mug, I researched several other brands and found that many of them have similar designs. I'm a guy with fairly large hands and the length/position of the handle means I can only hold 3 fingers on the handle leaving my pinky dangling awkwardly underneath or leaving me no choice but to grab the white viking knuckles. Handle. Oh God. I have mixed feelings to say the least. Luckily, because of the large hands mentioned, I resorted to holding the mug by the ceramic and completely ignoring the handle. COSMETICS: I consider appearance and cosmetic design to be purely subjective. For this product I was looking for a solution to a problem and the look was an afterthought. I think the textured surfaces of the pottery were designed with the landscape of the deer and the moon in mind, and it's beautifully done with smooth and vibrant matte colors. It is very calming and enhances calm after a good cup of tea. It would be great to see other design themes and colors in the future. Overall this product is well made, easy to use/clean and seems sturdy enough to last quite a while - I check almost all my boxes when choosing a teacup.