Loose Tea- How to Prepare it?

Cardinal Richelieu

I got a gift of some loose teas. Whats the best way to prepare it? Per cup or in a teapot? How much should I use? Can I blend the teas?

Thanks

Slaphead07

Cardinal Richelieu wrote: »

I got a gift of some loose teas. Whats the best way to prepare it? Per cup or in a teapot? How much should I use? Can I blend the teas?

Thanks

Don't blend unless you know what you're doing!

get a teapot (not stainless steel) in TK Maxx, Demhamams or similar.

Boil kettle, heat the teapot with little hot water and rinse out.

Try 1 1/2 teaspoons of loose tea in the pot (adjust to taste with the next pot), just pop it in the pot, add water stir and then let it sit for 4-5 minutes.

Enjoy!

Loose tea is so much nicer than bags (spit).

The Lovely Muffin

My granny uses loose tea, she put's one teaspoon of it into a cup, then pours boiling water into the cup, let sit for two minutes and then add milk.

Slaphead07

oh and buy a strainer too... you don't want leaves in your cup.

Bob Z

Slaphead07 wrote: »

Don't blend unless you know what you're doing!

get a teapot (not stainless steel) in TK Maxx, Demhamams or similar.

Boil kettle, heat the teapot with little hot water and rinse out.

Try 1 1/2 teaspoons of loose tea in the pot (adjust to taste with the next pot), just pop it in the pot, add water stir and then let it sit for 4-5 minutes.

Enjoy!

Loose tea is so much nicer than bags (spit).

is stainless teapots bad for loose tea?

Slaphead07

Bob Z wrote: »

is stainless teapots bad for loose tea?

Not bad but I find they leave a metallic taint in the tea. Ceramic pot tend to me "inert". It could be just me of course. I only said it in case they had yet to buy a teapot.

bath handle

The teapot should be rinsed thoroughly twice with hot water imo. The pot gets much hotter and this helps the infusion .

Boggie

Hi there, imo glass teapots are best for good loose tea, as I like to see the tea move around. You can buy glass teapots with infusers in them, they're available in most kitchenware shops, I've also seen them in some Health food shops. 1 teaspoon per person (no extras "for the pot"). If it's green tea, or white tea, you should let the water cool for a few minutes (80 to 90 deg). Infuse for 2 to 3 minutes, and pour all the tea off the leaves. you can keep the leaf if it's good quality tea and use again. Incidentally the second infusion will be decaf as all the caffeine is in the first infusion.

Hoof_Hearted

Boggie wrote: »

Hi there, imo glass teapots are best for good loose tea, as I like to see the tea move around. You can buy glass teapots with infusers in them, they're available in most kitchenware shops, I've also seen them in some Health food shops. 1 teaspoon per person (no extras "for the pot"). If it's green tea, or white tea, you should let the water cool for a few minutes (80 to 90 deg). Infuse for 2 to 3 minutes, and pour all the tea off the leaves. you can keep the leaf if it's good quality tea and use again. Incidentally the second infusion will be decaf as all the caffeine is in the first infusion.

Thanks, never thought of using the leaves again.
I drink loose leaf and love it far more than bags, just wanted to add that if you do use a teapot (the only way for me) then a tea cosy is brilliant. I just recently got one and the difference is great, lovely hot tea all the way to the end of the pot. I use a silver plated pot btw, no metallic taste from that.