There have been a few posts about how tea bags are not so good because the leaves cannot circulate in the water.
I have been using an infuser, but I notice that with some types of tea, the infuser gets very packed once the leaves open up.
Would I get any benefit from just dumping the leaves right into the pot? I could use a small strainer when pouring the tea out of the pot.
-- Email: Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com (11/09/04)
I say give it a shot. I use a strainer for red tea but that's a convenience...I always put loose leaf in for greens and puer. I use a glass coffee carafe (never used for coffee) for the greens so I can see the leaves which are very beautiful as they open up.
But definitely, if you are not bothered by the inconvenience of decanting to another pot through a strainer, put the leaves right in and see if you can tell the difference. I say the more they swim the better. :)
Melinda
Depending on what kind of tea you are brewing, you could get yourself one of the small apparatuses with the a strainer pot that allows you to brew the tea and press a button when you want to drain the tea. I cannot remember what they are called, but they are definitely useful.
It could be fine just as long as you be careful not to over brew. Some of the more common teas, you can just leave in the pot and add water over them over and over, but I wouldn't do it with your expensive teas. heh.
Yes, this is the best method, but it tends to a bit more of a clean-up. Ekco has a fairly decent strainer for ~$2.00 at Wal-Mart. The best that I've used is the Empress Tea Room strainer, usually ~$4.00 to $4.50 at various sites online. Some sites have it priced higher :(.
Other options are a Teeli brew basket, IngenuiTea, EZ-pot, Chatsford teapot.
The best price for Teeli baskets that I'm aware of is at
You can find a good price for the IngenuiTea at
The small one is in their starter set w/ four teas at
Chatsford teapots are available in lots of different colors and patterns from earthenware to bone china in 2-cups to 10-cups so, you're on your own there.
Some people swear by the SwissGold basket infuser so, there's another option for you.
I don't see the name "Teeli" on that site. Were you referring to the "Permanent tea filters"? I already have a Chatsford pot with infuser.
Now that is a cool gadget. I have a really hard time resisting cool gadgets. Especially ones with really cool little videos showing how it works. I may have to get one.
I rarely brew a single cup. I like to brew a pot and have it in the thermos at my desk for the afternoon. Usually 4-6 cups.
Thanks for the great leads.
-- Email: Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com (11/09/04)
Yes, but since you already have a Chatsford, you can use the basket as long as it's big enough that it won't sink below the water level, maybe even use it as a strainer, and save yourself some money.
You're welcome :).
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