What's the best way to steep loose leaf tea? for Questionland Seattle

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What's the best way to steep loose leaf tea?

I've been drinking Sip-T tea recently and it's delicious, but I immediately lost the reusable bag/strainer it came with. A lot of their teas have super small leaves/stuffs and the tea ball I have doesn't hold it all in. Is there a certain brand of tea strainer or a solid technique that works well for all types of loose tea without imparting additional flavorings?

Julia Wayne asked in Coffee & Tea about 1 year ago | Report

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I find that the best method is to give the tea as much room to move and expand as possible. That means a pot and a (hand held) strainer. I use a strainer that I found with very fine wire mesh, from my local homewares shop. The wire mesh seems to catch more than a metal tea-ball.

If you want to use a teapot without a hand held strainer, try the Bee House pots - http://www.beehouseteapot.com/
These pots are a nice shape, pour well and the internal strainer is fine enough that you will not get a lot of bits coming through it. Some, but not unbearable.

ozchick answered in Coffee & Tea about 1 year ago | Report

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Warning: disposables ahead. I have a tea ball and a couple of those little reusable cotton steeping bags, but honestly my favorite option is some disposable tea filters I bought at Market Spice a couple years ago. They come in packs of 100 and are unbleached, and I pour in a bit of tea and then tie a knot in the extra at the top and toss it into the water. Super easy.

pickled ginger answered in Coffee & Tea about 1 year ago | Report

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First, thanks for bringing to our attention this local company and products.

The best way to infuse or brew products without flavor reactions with your vessel or tools is to do it in glass.

I wonder if any of the all glass methods sold under the De Chine line of Bodum would work well for you.

They have a 20 ounce all glass tea pot and filter and a 12 ounce all glass tea cup and infuser. There are some other permutations of the design using a stainless steel infuser also. Only with rare exception have I been anything but pleased with this company's products.

http://www.bodumusa.com/shop/line.asp?MD=2&GID=7&LID=295&CHK=&SLT=&mscssid=VPNCU2RL5VKD8JW97Q56QR1RL9KFCHV0

Russ Campbell, NWEBS answered in Coffee & Tea about 1 year ago | Report

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I work at a tea room, and we use metal strainers by ForLife. They are very handy for just about any loose leaf tea, and they are very convenient. They provide the tea with enough room to expand, and they make clean-up much easier than putting the leaves straight into the tea-pot.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41FA1xr2ESL.jpg

Emily Johnson answered in Coffee & Tea about 1 year ago | Report

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I have a little french press that I use for tea only. The tea gets to circulate in the water while brewing, and I wait till right before I pour to push the strainer down. I mostly drink teas without lots of little bits of stuff, but I have a rooibos blend with little bits and haven't been bothered by anything getting past the strainer.

asteria answered in Coffee & Tea about 1 year ago | Report

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A very simple way would be to use a gaiwan. Google it, you can pick it up for cheap at many stores in the international district. These would only make one cup at a time.

If you want to use your own cups whole foods sells little boxes of 20 or so loose leaf tea bags, I think they're meant to be disposable. They're square and flat, maybe the size of an index card. This would be good if you there are a lot of little crumbs you don't want to end up drinking.

They also carry little steeping tea pots.

If you want to brew more than one cup call around to tea houses, or that place you bought your tea from and ask if they carry steeping pots, or bed bath and beyond would prolly have it also. If your tea expands and likes to have room while steeping then one of these would be great.

If don't mind waiting for shipping and handling, the pot linked to you by the other commenter looks great.

internet_jen answered in Coffee & Tea about 1 year ago | Report

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