(MYO = Make Your Own)
Maybe I've got too much time on my hands but here's what I've been trying out (Methods A & B were covered in a previous post):
***Method C ***
What you'll need:
- Any traveler's mug or tumbler with a hole large enough for a straw.
- Straw
- Disposable paper coffee filter (they're easier to find than paper tea filters)
Cut the filter into quarters and cut each quarter in half. Take one piece and twist it until it's small enough to fit into the straw. Cut to a length of about 1-1/2", saving the rest of the filter for another time. Feed the twisted filter piece into the straw, leaving 1/2" out as a tail by which you can pull out the filter paper when you want. Untwist so that the filter fills the straw. Then:
a. Place straw in mug. b. Measure tea into mug. c. Add hot water and cap. Because tea will steep longer than usual, it's best that the water is 140°F or below. d. Let steep, then sip through straw as desired. e. Remove lid and add more hot water as needed until leaves are spent.
By using the filter-filled straw as a strainer, Method C makes a multi-infusing tea traveler similar in purpose to Method A without having to fit a basket to a mug although the straw will prevent one from having a closed container while in transit.
***Method D ***
What you'll need:
- Any sports bottle with a push-pull cap. Disposable PET water bottles are particularly good for this since you won't be using really hot water and may throw it away instead of cleaning out the tea leaves and washing it.
- Disposable paper coffee filter.
Cut a piece of the filter that's slightly larger than the opening of the sports bottle. Save the rest of the filter for another time. Then:
a. Measure tea and insert into bottle. b. Add hot water. It's best that the water is 125°F or below or the bottle will be too hot to hold. c. Place filter over bottle opening and cap. d. Let steep, then drink as desired. e. Remove cap and filter and add more hot water, carefully replacing filter or use a fresh piece before recapping. Repeat as needed until leaves are spent.
By using the filtered sports cap as a strainer, Method D makes a multi-infusing tea traveler similar in purpose to Method A without having to fit a basket to a mug and the beverage is less likely to spill as in Method C.