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A tea infuser is small device used to brew loose leaf tea. Rather than using prepackaged tea bags, tea infusers allow you to use fresher, higher quality tea, or even create your own blends. Tea infusers are simple to use. By preparing your infuser, and then carefully making tea, you can enjoy a perfectly brewed beverage in the comfort of your home. [1]
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Expert Source
Nicole Wilson
Tea Expert
Expert Interview
Steeping Loose Leaf Tea with a Tea Infuser
- Fill your tea infuser with 1 to 3 tsp. (4.8-14.7 ml) of loose leaf tea, depending on whether you want a mild or strong brew, says tea expert Nicole Wilson.
- Set the tea infuser inside your mug.
- Boil water and pour it into the mug.
- Let your tea steep for 1 to 3 minutes, depending on the type of tea.
- Take out the tea infuser and enjoy.
Steps
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Choose your infuser. A tea infuser is a container used to steep loose leaf tea (taking the place of a traditional tea bag). All tea infusers have some place to hold the tea (a basket) and some kind of handle or cord. [2] X Expert Source Nicole Wilson
Tea Expert Expert Interview Select the infuser of your choice. Some common styles include:- Tea ball with chain
- Tea ball with long handle
- Tea strainer (that sits on the edge of a mug)
- Novelty infusers shaped like robots, deep sea divers, or anything else.
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Measure your tea. Depending on the type of tea you are using, add 1-3 tsp. (4.8-14.7 ml) of loose leaf tea to your infuser. It is important not to overstuff the infuser, as this can cause tea leaves to spill out into your tea. Many loose leaf teas will include recommended measurements, but here are some general guidelines:- Green tea: 1-2 tsp. (4.8-9.8 ml)
- White tea: 2-3 tsp. (9.8-14.7 ml)
- Black tea: 1-2 tsp. (4.9-9.8 ml)
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Place the infuser in your mug. Once you have measured your loose leaf tea and placed it inside your tea infuser, simply place the infuser inside your mug. Affix your infuser to the edge of your mug, or allow the chain/handle to hang over the edge.
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Boil some water. In order to brew tea, you should always use freshly drawn, cold water. If you have access to filtered water, this is even better. You will need about 8 oz. (1 cup) of water for one cup of tea. Place your water in a kettle and heat it until boiling.
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Measure the water temperature. Once the water has reached a boiling point, remove it from the heat. Use a kitchen thermometer to check the temperature of the water. If the water is too hot for the type of tea you are brewing, allow it to cool down for a few minutes and check it again. Once again, you can follow the instructions included with your tea, but here are some general guidelines:
- White tea: 176-185 F (80-85 C)
- Green tea (Japanese): 158-176 F (70-80 C)
- Green tea (Chinese): 176-185 F (80-85 C)
- Black tea: 203 degree F (95 C)
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Add hot water to your mug. Once your water reaches the appropriate temperature, and your infuser is in place, add the hot water to your mug. Then wait the specified length of time (you may want to set a timer). Follow the instructions included with your tea, or follow these guidelines:
- White tea: 3 minutes
- Green tea (Japanese): 1-2 minutes
- Green tea (Chinese): 2-3 minutes
- Black tea: 2-3 minutes
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Remove the infuser. After the steeping time is up, remove your infuser. If you are finished making tea, you can discard the tea leaves and rinse your infuser under warm water. Otherwise, you can reuse the tea for another cup. Simply increase the steep time by 1-2 minutes. [3] X Research source
- If you compost food waste, you can add tea leaves to your compost pile.
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Join the Discussion...
The word ‘teaspoon’ was actually created for how much tea you should put inside your cup. You would basically take one teaspoon of dried leaf. If it's a small leaf, use a regular size teaspoon. If it's a large botanical, you use a heaping teaspoon per cup. When we say "per cup", that refers to about 8-10 ounces of liquid.
There are multiple ways to steep tea. First, you can use a steeping device. Second, you can use a filter. I've actually created our own filter bags through my business, Art of Tea. We have our own patented design where you put the tea inside and you cinch the filter and you get the best of both worlds– both a loose-leaf tea and a tea bag.
Another question that might come up is how much tea to steep to make a full pot. For example, if it's a three-cup pot, then you put one teaspoon per cup and one for the pot. In other words, you put four teaspoons in it all together and you want to give enough room. Then, when it's time to pour the tea you can pour the liquid through a strainer, like the stainless steel ones my business sells. The key is that you want to make sure the leaves have enough room to expand in the pot. They go through this process called the "agony of the leaf" where the leaves unfurl and unfold, which delivers a much more aromatic, rich, full cup with all those amino acids coming through. Ensuring that there's enough room in the filter will deliver that great taste experience that you're looking for.
There are multiple ways to steep tea. First, you can use a steeping device. Second, you can use a filter. I've actually created our own filter bags through my business, Art of Tea. We have our own patented design where you put the tea inside and you cinch the filter and you get the best of both worlds– both a loose-leaf tea and a tea bag.
Another question that might come up is how much tea to steep to make a full pot. For example, if it's a three-cup pot, then you put one teaspoon per cup and one for the pot. In other words, you put four teaspoons in it all together and you want to give enough room. Then, when it's time to pour the tea you can pour the liquid through a strainer, like the stainless steel ones my business sells. The key is that you want to make sure the leaves have enough room to expand in the pot. They go through this process called the "agony of the leaf" where the leaves unfurl and unfold, which delivers a much more aromatic, rich, full cup with all those amino acids coming through. Ensuring that there's enough room in the filter will deliver that great taste experience that you're looking for.
To steep loose leaf tea, you'll measure about one teaspoon for every six to eight ounces of water, but if it's a tea with a larger leaf, like a white tea, then you may need around two teaspoons for ever six to eight ounces of water. I recommend using spring water when brewing tea. You will then steep the tea for the allotted amount of time for that particular type of tea. For example if it's a green tea, that may be one to two minutes. These data points can all be found on the International Tea Master Scale.
Another important point is that different tea types steep best at different temperatures. Here's an overview of the ideal temperature for each major tea type:
Another important point is that different tea types steep best at different temperatures. Here's an overview of the ideal temperature for each major tea type:
- Black tea: 200 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit
- Oolong: 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit
- Green tea: 165 to 175 degrees Fahrenheit
- White tea: 180 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit
- Matcha: 150 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow much loose tea do I need for two quarts of water?DchungsCommunity AnswerTo brew approximately 2 quarts (8 cups) of tea with loose tea leaves, measure 1/4 cup tea leaves into your infuser. If would like to make iced tea, pour 4 cups of hot water first and steep (length of time depends on type of tea and taste preference), and then pour the tea over a pitcher with ice.
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References
- ↑ Nicole Wilson. Tea Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ Nicole Wilson. Tea Expert. Expert Interview
- ↑ http://www.silkroadteas.com/how-to-brew-loose-leaf-tea-brewing-instructions/
About This Article
Article Summary
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To use a tea infuser, start by putting 1 to 2 teaspoons of loose tea into the infuser. Then, place the infuser in your mug and pour hot water over it. Next, wait 2 minutes for the tea to steep before removing the infuser from the mug. Finally, discard the tea and rinse out the infuser. Alternatively, reuse the tea leaves to make another cup by steeping it in the hot water for an extra couple of minutes. For tips on how to heat your water to the right temperature based on the type of tea you’re preparing, read on!
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