If you love your loose leaf tea as much as I do, then you want to know that you can enjoy a good cup without anything getting in the way, not even a lack of an infuser. If this is you, then you are in the right place. I’m about to let you in on a few tricks I have up my sleeves.
In this article, I will be telling you how to brew loose leaf tea without an infuser. Let’s dive in.
Tips on How to Brew Loose Leaf Tea without an Infuser
Humans have been enjoying loose leaf tea for millennia in different cultures all over the world. They were doing this long before there were tea infusers, especially in China. How you ask, well this leads us to the first method of preparing tea without an infuser.
The Traditional Gaiwan Method
This method is an ancient method of brewing loose leaf tea without an infuser that has been around for quite some time. It involves using a small bowl and a lid. If you have a variation of this, you can brew a great cup of tea without an infuser.
Put your loose tea leaves into the bowl first, boil the water and then pour the boiled water in circular motions to get the most flavor out. When it has settled, cover the bowl with a lid and pour the tea into a cup, using the lid to restrain the tea leaves from getting into the cup.
Use a French Press
If you have been having this old coffee maker just sitting on your kitchen shelve, its time to put it to some good use. A French press coffee maker is another great way of brewing a great cup of loose leaf tea.
Use the coffee maker the same way you use it to make coffee. Pour in your loose tea leaves, followed by hot water and stir. Let the mixture sit for two to four minutes and pour it into a cup.
After you have used the coffee maker for tea, remember to rinse it well.
Using a Kitchen Roll
This is another creative tip you can use to brew a cup of tea without an infuser. All you need is a mug, a piece of kitchen roll, and a spoon to stir.
Start by folding the kitchen roll into four. Make a cone by unfolding one corner of the roll. Place this on the mug as you would a funnel. Pour in tea leaves first followed by hot water. Be gentle when pouring the hot water in so you don’t tear up the kitchen roll. Stir gently with a teaspoon and remove the soaked kitchen roll, allowing all the tea to drain out of the roll completely. Enjoy your mug of tea.
The Double Cup Method
Just like the name suggests, this method involves two cups. Pour your loose tea leaves into one cup, add hot water, and allow it to rest for a while to get the flavor and color out of the leaves. By then, the tea leaves will have settled at the bottom of the first cup.
Pour the contents into the second cup, and enjoy your cup of tea. There is a chance that a few loose leaves will make it into the second cup. If you don’t want that, you can use a small plate to keep the stray leaves out. A fork or a spoon works okay as well.
Use a Teabag
Most tea lovers are not fans of teabags. If you want a cup of loose leaf tea and don’t have an infuser, a teabag will come in handy, especially when you are on the move.
Just pour the loose leaf tea into a tea bag, pour hot water into a cup, and throw in the teabag. Let it sit for a while, and you are good to go.
If you don’t have any premade tea bags and the only option you have is a conventional teabag, you can still use that to brew a loose-leaf cup of tea. Start by cutting the bag at the end and empty the contents. Now pour your loose leaf tea into the teabag. You will need something to hold the teabag together with. A toothpick or a staple will do. Put the bag into the hot water, and you are good to go.
Sieving
If you don’t have an infuser, but you have a sieve in your kitchen, you can still enjoy a great cup of loose leaf tea.
Prepare the tea almost like you would while using the double cup method I have already shared with you. Brew loose leaf tea in one cup and let it sit for a while. Then use the sieve to filter out the tea leaves, and you have a delicious cup of tea.
Use Aluminum Or Tin Foil
This method almost functions as the kitchen roll method. The only difference with aluminum foil is that you can reuse it a couple of times more.
You need an aluminum foil, roughly the size of one kitchen napkin. Fold it into four squares. Using a knife or anything else sharp, poke tiny holes on the corner that’s to go into the cup when you brew your tea. Take care not to poke holes too large such that they let the leaves through.
Open the foil up to make a cone and put it into the cup as you would a funnel. Pour your loose leaf tea leaves into the cone. While holding the aluminum foil in place, pour freshly boiled water into the cone. Let it sit for a couple of minutes, then stir and pull out the foil. Your cup of tea is ready.
In Conclusion
You do not have to have all the fancy teaware to indulge yourself with a well-brewed cup of tea. All you need is a little bit of creativity and a few tips. Pick a method and enjoy a delicious cup of tea.
