topic Tea Bags Say What? in Kitchen

Tea Bags Say What?

kitty4me — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 00:16:44 GMT

I was at our Annual Christmas Bazaar yesterday and while there I was buying some tea I sampled. The one Tea I purchased was Loose Leaf. I asked now how can I use this since I don't have a Tea Ball? Well, they now sell empty Tea Bags and come in different sizes. Has anyone bought them and used them? Did you like them? Which ones did you like and use?

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

forrestwolf — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 00:21:35 GMT

I personally bought a stainless tea ball, for like a dollar, and use it for spices, instead of cheese cloth, and have used for loose tea....... Never heard of these "tea bags"......

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

adelle38 — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 00:23:40 GMT

I use a tea pot for loose tea and then use a tea strainer like this.

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

glmama — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 00:24:03 GMT

Hi-I've never used the empty bags, but I have seen them. I use a tea ball.

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

kitty4me — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 00:27:37 GMT

Hello Forrestwolf, like you I never heard of them either and the reason for this thread. I'm considering buying them and what a great idea to put spices and herbs into soups. Thank You Forrestwolf.

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

ChynnaBlue — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 00:48:44 GMT

No, that's wasteful.

I have loads of cute and clever tea infusers, but my favorite is the IngenuiTEA by Adagio Teas. (Other companies have different versions of the same idea.) It's a plastic mug you add your tea and water to and let it steep. When it finishes, you set the infuser mug on top of your drinking mug and it triggers a valve the drops the tea from the top mug to the bottom. Then you tip out the used leaves, rinse, and it's ready to be used again. Fast and easy - just make sure you don't pour in more hot water than your drinking mug will hold.

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

sunshine45 — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 00:52:39 GMT

if you dont have a tea ball just put the loose tea in a china tea pot, add boiling water and let it steep (you can use a tea cozy, place on top of the tea kettle, or place on a warmer to keep it warm). put a small amount of tea in your cup and add boiling water to it......this is the way it is done if using a samovar (the "old fashioned" way).

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

Sooner — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 00:53:12 GMT

Go to Amazon and search for forlife teapots. One word: ForLife. They make wonderful teapots, mugs, and infusers that all have infusers and let the leaves really bloom out and make far better tea than anything that keeps them wadded up and not as loose so water can flow through.

Lots of tea sites sell their pots, mugs, and infusers and they are great products! I LOVE the little stump teapots!

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

sunshine45 — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 00:53:44 GMT

On 11/21/2014 ChynnaBlue said:
No, that's wasteful.

I have loads of cute and clever tea infusers, but my favorite is the IngenuiTEA by Adagio Teas. (Other companies have different versions of the same idea.) It's a plastic mug you add your tea and water to and let it steep. When it finishes, you set the infuser mug on top of your drinking mug and it triggers a valve the drops the tea from the top mug to the bottom. Then you tip out the used leaves, rinse, and it's ready to be used again. Fast and easy - just make sure you don't pour in more hot water than your drinking mug will hold.

i like this idea.....my daughter is a big tea drinker. i may have to get her one of these and some loose teas for christmas!

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

forrestwolf — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 01:52:58 GMT

On 11/21/2014 Katey1261 said:
Hello Forrestwolf, like you I never heard of them either and the reason for this thread. I'm considering buying them and what a great idea to put spices and herbs into soups. Thank You Forrestwolf.

Especially wonderful when making corned beef with those spice packs.........

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

lolakimono — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 02:16:13 GMT

I have a tea ball server like this, from the Q many moons ago. K38739

I use an iced tea maker for pitchers of tea.

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

Yahooey — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 02:31:26 GMT

I was on a tea kick and bought loose tea along with the paper filters. I thought the leaves can unfurl (bags were 7x3 large pot size). I didn't use it much since I lost interest. More if a coffee drinker. This was also from adagio dot com from another poster. They do have nice teas and accessories.

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

Barbarainnc — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 02:59:44 GMT

I have the following link in large and LOVE it. I have a 1 quart glass measuring cup, I heat up 3 cups of water in the microwave. I take it out and put 1/4 cup or 1/2 oz of loose tea in the brewing basket and put in in water. Just let it set on the counter til it is steeped long enough. I pour the tea in gallon jug, add more cold water to make a gallon.

From 1 pound of loose tea I can make about 32 gallons of tea, for about 56 cents a gallon.

http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-514125/Finum+Brewing+Baskets

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

HonnyBrown — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 15:45:14 GMT

Those empty tea bags are great! I use them for whole spices that I want to remove from a pot or garlic from something.

The tea strainer, I use for draining the liquid from canned salmon.

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

DL2843 — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 16:13:20 GMT

Tea bags have there place. You can find them in most grocery stores by the coffee filters. I have given them to friends who also love them. They are great for people who do not use loose leaf all the time.

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

haddon9 — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 16:38:45 GMT

There are so many great tea infusers you can get online....if you have Amazon Prime you can get something delivered in two days.

I have a few infusers but for just a single cup of tea I have a ""tea spoon"". It's like an infuser tea ball only in the shape of a spoon for a single cup.

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

NickNack — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 16:56:04 GMT

I have a teapot with an infuser like the others mentioned. I bought mine from Teavana in the Mall. You can also order from them online. The tea infusers are better than the bags because the tea leaves need to expand and breathe.

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

jlkz — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 16:56:40 GMT

I use the plastic "" K-cup "" from BB&B and fill it appropriately for mild to strong tea for a quick change from tea bags.

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

Moonchilde — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 17:14:27 GMT

http://www.amazon.com/Finum-100-Tea-Filters-Medium/dp/B002WB12IY

Re: Tea Bags Say What?

KJPA — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 23:19:47 GMT

Another vote for ForLife products. I love their micro infusers. I have several pots and an individual cup with its own strainer and silicone lid. I also have the small and large Ingenutea but prefer my FoLife cups when brewing a single serving.

There are so many cute ideas out there for brewing teas including To-Go mugs that brew on the run. Search the Web for tea infusers and you will find tons. Once you get started you will probably buy multiples. And then you can learn how to brew different kinds of tea. It's a whole new world