loose tea?

I really like Celestial Seasonings cran-apple tea in the winter. I grow my own chamomile, which is WAY better than the store bought. I've also found that my local grocery store carries several varieties of lose-leaf tea in their bulk spice department, which is nice because you can try different varieties without spending a bunch.

I agree that Chad's teas are good but unfortunately his website isn't up for taking orders and I tried to re-order some teas in November (by e-mail) but never got a response back

We like Luzianne for iced tea. We've tried Tetley, Lipton and Red Rose but always go back to Luzianne. I have heard that adding the baking soda takes away the bitterness.

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By His Grace, For His Glory,
Sharon

http://www.stashtea.com/

http://www.teaforte.com/

http://www.republicoftea.com/

These are some great sources of great teas. Of course you might find something, relatively inexpensive, that you like at your local grocery store. Buy small quantities of lots of different things and see what you really like the best. Green teas that you mentioned are great. I recommend trying some Oolong--the roast is in between black and green.

My sister is a big fan of cold brewing her tea. She will brew it in a mason jar of cold water in the fridge overnight, and it does not get bitter or overly strong this way.

so if i get some loose tea, I need one of those balls then, a strainer, infuser or bag?? geesh, didn't think a cup of tea was such a dilemma!

In a pinch, you can strain the infused tea through a coffee filter, a paper towel, etc, but it's not the best way of doing it.

Personally, I don't recommend the tea balls. They limit how much of the leaf material is in contact with the water, and that limits how much flavor is extracted.

I completely agree there! I use the half strainer ball that is a fine mesh but not like a typical ball. I changed it as I put tea leaves in the half I took apart to allow it to free float in the strainer and then I get the same quality as if I just put them loose in the pot. Herbals can go longer but I have found the Green and Black Teas can get bitter when longer than about 5 minutes.

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Romy "Island Girl"
[URL="http://www.romysrealm.blogspot.com"]

This thread got me thinking, I need to drink less Dr. Pepper. Tea bags always seemed kind of tasteless. So on the way to work I bought some Lipton loose tea and a mesh tea ball thing. Seems to taste better. What price do you folks pay for tea? The Lipton loose tea was $4.99 for a half pound box. The store had a display of bulk loose teas, but my heavens, $28 something a pound!

For loose tea in a single cup, I use a "clip handle tea strainer" similar to the one in the site below. Have had it close to 30 years.

www.chinatraderonline.com/3/tea-strainer/

Martin

You don't need any special tea balls to use loose tea. If you make it in a pot, just do it the traditional way. Put the leaves in loose, then the boiling water. Steep and pour.

The leaves that land in your cup can be used for fortune telling.

I haven't read all the replies, so forgive me if I'm being redundant. You can make loose tea into "bags" by putting your handful of tea into a coffee filter and sewing closed with cotton thread. Works great and if you make a bunch at once really takes very little time.

A good tea can sell for over $100 per pound. But, a pound of tea will make around 300 cups of tea. That $28/lb tea works out to about 10 cents a cup. Still very cheap.

I have a stainless steel filter that I use when I pour to catch all leaves and particles.

I am surprised to see that on a homesteading forum, so few grow their teas.

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You're on the right track. Never squeeze your tea bags as the tannins will definitely make the tea more bitter.

For iced tea, I like Luzianne. For hot tea, I like Twinings English breakfast and Bigelow Constant Comment. If I'm feeling especially indulgent, I reach for a tin of Mariage Frères Earl Grey. Mmmm.

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Beth ~ Old Church, VA
3 Nigerian Dwarf goats, 4 cats, 3 Pekin ducks and 7 chickens. One very patient husband~

I've got one of those Swiss Gold mug infusers.....LOVE IT!! I think the one I have you can actually use in a teapot as well, just set it in the top.

My favorite loose herbal tea is hibiscus and mint. Mmmmmmm

Bagged herbals, I'm kind of partial to Stash.....

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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons...for you are crunchy and good with ketchup!

Not everyone likes herbal tea. As for the real stuff, growing tea is easy; processing it into something tasty is a complicated art.

Loose tea is a success so far. One week gone by, no Dr. Pepper. This Lipton brand loose tea tastes better than tea bags. I have found some Earl Grey and English Breakfast tea also. They come in some neat tins I should be able to use for something.

All this talk about tea made me want a big mug of Lapsang Souchong..I ordered it from Upton Tea Imports over 10 years ago and it's still good.I think it'll keep forever in the 125 gram tin as long as the lid's on tight.Upton has a tremendous selection of tea and reasonable prices.

We discovered that the single cup drip coffee makers are wonderful at making loose tea. Use a Bunn filter, put the loose tea in the way you would ground coffee, and let'er drip.

i have lots of old tea balls that I use for loose tea but you can make tea out of many of the leaves and berries that grow in your yard..like rapsberry, blackberry and strawberry leaves, mint, etc..

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Brenda Groth
http://restfultrailsfoodforestgarden.blogspot.com/