Timolino (12 oz)

I was coming on Steepster to make the exact same review! I just got my Timolino a few days ago and already it’s perfection.

LADIES: I WANT ONE SO BADLY!

What would the difference be between this and a Contigo from Costco? (minus the basket for the leaves)

I just got a bunch of Davidstea gift cards for my birthday so I’mm all over the idea of this

Timolinos keep your tea hot longer. Mine actually has a mesh screen instead of a basket, so I use it for long steeps (green jasmine pearls, herbal teas, some puerhs, etc) when I’m hiking. The contigos don’t make you unscrew a lid before drinking, so I find them easier when on the go.

Thanks for the comparison!

Not sure about the Contigo, but I like how the Timolino is leakproof.I want to put it in my purse and not worry about my kindle!

omg i love my kindle too! but there is love for both in my heart. timolino meet kindle, kindle meet timolino. now double high-five all of us!

i mean i love my kindle so much that i immediately went and bought my boything and my sister each one. like when you love a song so much that you want the whole world to hear it really loud so they understand!

Hahah, yeah I totally understand those feels! I bought my sister a kindle for her birthday and she just… neglected it. :O Then my boyfriend bought a Kobo reader but he barely uses it either. OMG PPL IDEK.

Double high-fives!

Oh, I recently took up knitting and someday I hope to create a tardis cover for my kindle. That’d be SLICK. (and bigger on the inside)

well my boyfriend neglects his too. BUT my sister uses hers enough for all 3 of us so it all balances out :) (yay english major)
the doctah + kindle cozi = just too much

I put mine in my purse with my ipad! I usually have lunch and a reusable shopping bag (for padding) in there too, so all my mugs stand upright. I have started to carry 2 in my purse and one in my hand…

Agreed with OMGsrsly – Timolinos have better heat retention, which is good and bad. Contigos are still pretty good though! Timolinos are also smaller (at least, I haven’t seen them in bigger sizes), and they are easier to clean – the Contigo has bits up top that are irritating. Contigo – definitely easier for on the go, and although both are leakproof, and I’ve never had a problem, I’m more concerned about the Contigo than Timolino. I’ve heard mine slowly taking in air if the vacuum got to be too much.

That’s it you guys, I’m buying one this weekend!! Davidstea gift cards ftw!!

one other note about timolinos…(and i feel this way about beer or wine too)…if i am going to fully appreciate and enjoy the drink i need to be able to smell the liquid as i drink. meaning it’s best to have a somewhat open top to my drinking container. (thus a travel mug with one little drinking hole or a beer bottle are not ideal. phooey).
i like that the timolino has a strainer type top so the scent of the tea can still easily reach my nose. but i also often times just twist the whole lid off so i can really get my honker in there.

I didn’t end up buying one because I didn’t like the plastic basket, wouldn’t it absorb the smell of every tea you made and get dirty really quickly? It seems sort of cheaply made which made me nervous. For $30…

I got the pink/purple one last night! eeee! am using it right now.

YAY! welcome to timolinoland Ellyn

Ellyn, Where did you buy it?

I bought it from the david’s store in the south end of boston, Mass.

So no one else finds the plastic basket thing questionable? Does it get all stainy?

Whatshesaid – I found my older one has a few stains on the basket, and along the rim, but I don’t think it interferes with the taste. I didn’t take very good care of that one though – I think the stain was from leaving a full tumbler of tea in there and forgetting it but to be fair I wasn’t getting a lot of sleep at the time. Also I drank coffee in it. (Don’t do that!)

My new timolino has been taken care of much better and I don’t see any stains. But even with the old one I don’t notice that the stains impact the flavour of the next tea. Hopefully Shmiracles can clarify.

I have to second that it’s important to be able to smell the tea too! I’ve been steeping both timolinos, and then taking turns drinking out of both by pouring the tea into my little bubble cup. Lets me enjoy the tea, without it getting cold, and then I can switch back and forth too! I find I waste less tea now because I’m not dumping cold cups down the drain.

I love your picture btw. I just want to grab all those timolinos and hug them. #YesThatsAStrangeThingToSay

you said it Covocorax!! no more cold cups down the drain ever! and i can brew a different tea for each timoliono and just cycle through them as slowly as i want! you said it!!

(sorry but i can’t say much in regards to the brewing baskets. i’ve gotten lazy and i’m always running late and i basically only use disposable tea bags these days.)
(i’m not sure who but somebody mentioned using unflavored denture cleaner for removing stains, and it seems to have worked nicely for my one super stained one. i’m gonna try it on some of the brewing baskets later this weekend.)

I still have a gift card to Davidstea so you never know. I do find them kind of small though! But I am a tea guzzler, haha

I totally advocate for the use of unflavoured denture tablets. :) It might take a few goes, but they really help loosen the stains (and smells).

Wow! Multiple timolinos so you can sip different tea throughout the day? utter and complete genius. Wow wow wow. I’ve actually been lusting after the white one, and now I feel justified in pursuing this temptation.

I finally got one, keychange! I actually got the white one, and today right after I opened the box and cleaned my shiny little Timolino, I saw on Facebook that Davids now has them in 16 oz. Now I really really really want the bigger one! I figured that I’ll use the 12 oz one to make sure that I at least like it instead of mailing it to exchange it. If I like the 12 oz I’ll just buy a 16 oz. :)

Haha Josie jade, don’t you just hate buying something only to realize something else has appeared that you want even more? How much do you want to bet that within a month or so, you’ll own a 16 oz one and I’ll have it in white? hahaha! Do you think the white one will get dirty/fingerprints on it easily? I want one!

16 oz?! haha oh no!
i don’t want it but i want it. i still use mine every day, in some combination or another.

Kittenna,

Have you thought about writing a review of the Contigo? I for one would be interested in learning more about your experience with it and how it compares to the Timolino or Zojirushi. Thanks!

http://steepster.com/teaware/contigo/46360-autoseal-16-oz-stainless-steel

I probably use a travel mug 6 out of seven days each week – even when I’m at home all day – because they keep the tea at just the right temperature for so long. This Timolino and the Zojirushi are the greatest!

I will probably start using mine at home, too. Especially if I’m doing stuff around the house, I always forget my tea and then it’s cold when I remember it! I’ll have to check out the Zojirushi mugs. Do you prefer those or the Timolino more?

Hey Josie Jade! Glad you’re enjoying your mug. Let’s hang in there and eventually upgrade to getting more LOL. And as a side note, I’m glad to find another tea-lover who likes milk and sugar/sweetener as much as I do! :). They pretty much revolutionize most teas, as far as I’m concerned.

For me, the Zojirushi is the preferred mug but they are both good. This is the review that sold me on the zojirushi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-0aq0q6j_8

Wow digniTea, that review makes the mug seem awesome! I’m going to have more travel mugs than actual mugs at the rate I’m going, and that actually doesn’t seem like that bad an idea.

keychange, I’m so happy to see I’m not the only one with a milk and sugar addiction! I always try a new tea plain, but 9 times out of 10 I like it so much more once I add milk and sugar! There’s just something comforting about a cup of tea with milk and sugar added. Do you prefer strong black teas, too?

DigniTea, the Zojirushi mug looks amazing! I will have to consider that one too. I have a gift certificate for Amazon so I may break down and use that to buy one! :)

I hear you on the sogirushi mug! especially when one of the reviewers on amazon said that he could drink from it while lying on his pillow at night without spilling a drop! that basically sounds like my idea of heaven.
Yes, I love love love strong black teas; I actually find many other varieties to be too weak, and often steep them significantly longer than the suggested steep time to coax all the flavor out of them that I possibly can. I used to feel like a “non purist” for preferring milk and sugar in my tea, but it really does transform the tea from what I feel is slightly flavoured warm water to a masterpiece of tasteful and comforting tea. I just don’t like very thin drinks! LOL.

I too purchased my Zojirushi from Amazon (the Timolino as well). Enjoying Verdant’s Autumn Tieguanyin in the Zojirushi right now.

Wait, they sell Timolinos on Amazon? Are they the same ones that Davids Tea sell? I briefly looked on Amazon, but couldn’t find the same ones. If I can get them on Amazon them I will order them right now!

I have the 12oz Timolino mug with infuser which I purchased from Amazon six months ago. Not sure what David’s has.

That sounds like exactly what David’s has, DigniTea. I am going to do another search tonight on Amazon. Another 12 oz would let me take 2 mugs of tea to get through the day until they come out with new colors of the 16 oz. :)

Hey, Josie Jade! I was at David’s today, and they said they’ll be getting new colours in of the 16 oz timolinos on November first. They mentioned a winter evergreen colour, as well as an ice blue. I am so over the moon! Are you still thinking of getting a 16 oz one?

Hi keychange! Woohoo, that’s great news! Can’t wait to see the new colors. Yes I still want a 16 oz, even though I am not on campus nearly as long as I thought, so my 12 oz is working fine for just now. But it will be nice to have another one for my fiancée to use and next semester I will have 12 hour clinicals instead of just 6. I’ll be doing a countdown until November 1st. If I can stand to wait I’ll ask for one for Christmas. Thanks for sharing!

DigniTea,
“For me, the Zojirushi is the preferred mug …”

Have you thought about writing a review of it? I for one would be interested in learning more about your experience with it and how it compares to the Timolino. Thanks!

http://steepster.com/teaware/zojirushi/44057-sm-kb48tm-16-ounce-vacuum-stainless-steel-travel-mug

I have a Teavana tumbler that looks just like your Timolino but in a different color. I have to say this tumbler keeps it very hot. I’ve found that I can’t put water hotter than 185 degrees in it if I want to drink it anytime soon. I always takes some with me for after my walk (3 miles daily) at the rec center. It sits out in the freezing cold in the winter (-16 last week) and it was still too hot to drink. I don’t use the filter basket too often but have never had any problems with it. Besides working well, it looks very nice.

I would love one of these but i just can’t justify the price when the contigo’s i have are more than half the price and hold the temp forever…

When I say doesn’t hold temp. as well – I should elaborate. The black one (the ‘better’ of the two) will keep water at boiling, practically undrinkable, temperatures for anywhere between five and nine hours. The white only holds that same level of heat for three to six, or so, hours. So – they do hold pretty well. When I was working, I took a cold bottle of tea to drink first during my shift, and then a hot to drink later in the day after it had cooled significantly.

Contingos are available at Costco, right? I forgot to check last time I was there. Either way, I think Timolinos are worth the price. I’ve had mine for nearly a year and it’s like new.

I had received my Teavana tumbler as a gift in one of their gift package. So mine was really cheap!

I love mine. I just wish it were easier to clean right at the bottom. I think I’m just staining it. If it were a yixing that’d be ok…

Cavo – denture thingies lol
swedish chef – yeah 2 for 20$ @ costco :) and i don’t have to take the lid off to drink

Hot damn, that’s a steal. Does it have a good lip thingy, not too thick and all that jazz?

And I second the denture thingies.

contigo = plastic/rubber type lip thingy. gets a bit warm sometimes, but not terribly so..less so than metal :) they’re leak proof as well

…hence my inability to justify timloino pricing, though i really want one :)

I also have 2 and really enjoy them. They keep tea really hot and don’t leak if sealed properly. I got them both as gifts, so 2 thumbs up!
Good tip on the denture tabs for cleaning, I will have to try that!

Thanks guys. I keep forgetting but I WILL get denture tablets. (I also want to dissolve those to help clean my counter)

cavo – worse case just get some from me..i bought a giant box AND i have the cleaner from mandala… so i’m set

Awesome – thanks Sil!

Sil,
“I would love one of these but i just can’t justify the price when the contigo’s i have are more than half the price and hold the temp forever…”

Have you thought about writing a review of the Contigo? I for one would be interested in learning more about your experience with it and how it compares to the Timolino or Zojirushi. Thanks!

http://steepster.com/teaware/contigo/46360-autoseal-16-oz-stainless-steel

and they are so easy to throw in the bottom of my bag! i can really trust the lid to stay secure. i wanna buy one for the whole world hah. xoxo

I’ve been thinking about picking up one of these. Where did you purchase yours? (You can PM me if you don’t want the whole Steepster world to see.)

Do you use the infuser on-the-go, and if so do you take it out to prevent oversteeping? Where do you put it?

i echo dinosara’s questions since i haven’t put much thought into this though i do love the design and i know kittenna loves hers

personally i do use the brewing basket occasionally. first i rest the lid with basket kinda tilted on the top of the cup and let it drain a long time and also let the basket cool off cuz it’s so hot to touch. then i’ll dump the basket into the garbage and rinse it in the sink in any old bathroom. but more often (for better or worse), i just brew with a disposable teabag and leave the basket at home, …cuz i’m in a hurry.

I love mine too! If it’s tea that I don’t really need to worry about oversteeping I just put it beneath the basket (like in the bottom of the mug). The basket is pretty useless for a lot of my teas because any little bits end up in your mouth, but this way definitely makes a difference! Usually I end up using it for iced instead of hot so I don’t need to worry much about oversteeping!

One tip if you use if for hot though is to leave some room at the top to add a little cold water, if not I find it stays scalding for basically the entire day!

I love this mug, it doesn’t leak andd stays hot! I use the brew basket and brew just like a normal cuppa. Unless it is a rooibos or herbal that can steep forever

I’m pretty stoked on it too, but it means I need to be organized enough to have my tea brewed before I go. Leaving them in the basket doesn’t seem to be an option unless it’s an herbal? IDK. I like a mug I can beat up on!

I don’t use the basket. The holes are too fine, and my tea tastes funky when steeped and held at practically boiling the whole time.

ALSO re:buying Timolinos: I forgot that I saw them advertised for sale on Tealux’s site for cheaper than at DT. And, I think new customers get a 15% off coupon code that does apply to teaware!

Oh! Oh well. I like the colours they have at DT’s more so I won’t feel too bad about missing the deal.

Bleh, I wish I had remembered to mention this somewhere. I should probably make a discussion board post about it…. but I’m lazy. DT’s colours are def better though. And that’s where I got both of mine (actually, my ex-bf’s mom bought the first one at either DT or Tea Desire, and I bought the second at my local DT).

It’s only 4 bucks cheaper at Tealux, I didn’t bother making an account just to see how much shipping would be, maybe someone else can chime in who isn’t lazy like me haha!

I brew my tea at home, so use the brewbasket (I like it, it’s the perfect size for the amount of tea that fits in the mug IMO) then take the tea and basket out after steeping. I leave the basket at home so far, I definitely wouldn’t keep a tea brewing in there because #1 it’s too hot, and #2 the bits would come through when you sip.

I find because the tea stays so hot (poifect for me, since I have to wait many hours until I get to sip!) I don’t run out of it before the end of the day. I get to savour it instead of chugging it back, which is how I prefer my hot tea anyways. Iced tea is a whole other story ;)

My only complaint about the Timolino is it’s size. 12 oz is just not big enough for me. I like a nice 16oz to go mug. Hopefully they will come out with a bigger one soon because I really love everything else about this mug.

I may break down and buy this. I need a good travel mug. Thanks for posting.

my ONLY complaint with timolino’s are that i have to take the lid off to drink. around here that’s dangerous… i have a tendency to knock things over lol

Oh yeah, I hear you there—I’m not exactly the most graceful person myself. Still though, I prefer it to the other travel mugs that don’t let you stuff your nose in while you drink haha.

haha

i don’t use the brewing basket either. and yo, on dire wake up early when i seriously won’t want to days, i can make tea before bed and seal it up in my timolino, and then in the morning it’s still totally warm! and i will use every get-out-from-under-the-covers motivation i can get

Wow. I’ve never tried that but that’s a great idea! It doesn’t have to be piping hot so long as it’s warm.

shmiracles, that’s a great idea! because yeah, I imagine it isn’t piping hot, but you could just sip it as you wake up! how perfect!

I spoke to a salesperson at David’s when I bought my Timolino, and they said that they recommend putting the loose tea in the main compartment, then using the basket as a strainer. This avoids any trouble with the basket not reaching the water, and gives a finer strain than the holes in the sipping lid do.

That said, I usually make my tea in a mug and then transfer it to the Timolino, to let it cool as much as I can.

I’d actually heard of that before, although wouldn’t that lead to some severe oversteeping? especially with blacks and such?
I’m actually going to start experimenting with using the basket again. It actually does reach the water, although it’d be nicer if it were even deeper, but still—it definitely does reach the water. It just seems a bit small, especially for some of the longer, twistier leaves.

Let me know if you ever find one!

I would kill… not literally of course, for a dishwasher safe travel mug :(

One con, to me: size. I think it holds 12oz? That’s an awkward amount, and I’d prefer 16.

I know about the heat issue. I have burned my mouth so many times with mine!

I find I’m starting to get a smell issue with mine too – I’ll have to break out the vinegar because I just can’t seem to kill it. :|

Same unbearable smell issue… It really ruins it for me. I think I’ll take the chance to toss it in the dishwasher like you did! Any adverse effects yet to anyone who did?

i soak them with an unflavored denture cleaner tablet. i have 4 timolinos and i put 1 tablet in each and fill it with water and just let it sit for a day. i also put all four lids in a bowl with 2 tabs and add water. it works great. gets out all the stains and smells.

What a good idea! I’ll keep that in mind. By the way, I tried the dishwasher, and nothing exploded :-)

with metal mugs like this they only say not diswasher safe because it takes the paint off. If you don’t care about losing the colour of your travel mug throw it in the dishwasher. I do with my Contigo and haven’t noticed anything wrong.

Great idea with the denture tabs, I might just give that a shot & see if it’ll help with staining on the plastic bits. I’m still regularly using both of my original Timolino mugs, and they get tossed in the dishwasher each and every time. Still holding up great, no issues with the seal or even discoloration/chipping paint. I’m glad I didn’t give up on these. I’ve definitely gotten a lot of great use out of them, and the smell is no longer an issue now that I’m not primarily hand-washing them.

Yeah, I just bought denture tabs. I can’t wait to see how much of a difference they make, although I’ll probably only soak them for 12 hours at a time (I want to use them the other 12 hours to/from/at work. :P)

Helena,
Have you thought about writing a review of the Contigo? I for one would be interested in learning more about your experience with it and how it compares to the Timolino or Zojirushi. Thanks!

http://steepster.com/teaware/contigo/46360-autoseal-16-oz-stainless-steel