Tools for Making Tea

The choices are many, inexpensive and simple. Just about any cookware or kitchen store, Cost Plus, Crate and Barrel, discount emporium and corner coffee store carries teapots, French presses, infusers, strainers and tea paraphernalia.

Tea Pot
Place a third of a cup of loose herbs in a ceramic teapot. On stove, bring four cups water to boil and pour over herbs in pot. Cover teapot and steep.

Tea Ball, Tea Basket, Fill-Yourself Tea Bags
Place loose herbs in one of our tea balls, tea baskets or fill-yourself tea bags. Place in cup or mug. Cover with 1 cup boiling water and steep.

French Press
A really cool tool. Place one-third cup of loose herbs in an 8-cup French Press. Bring eight cups water to boil and pour over herbs. Steep. Use the plunger to easily hold the loose herbs in the bottom of the container after steeping while serving. For a 4-cup French Press, use1/8-1/4 cup of loose herbs.

Tea Pot with Infuser
An all in one approach. Look for a teapot with a little tea strainer cup that perches on the top of the pot. Follow the enclosed instructions or place herbs to fill the strainer cup. Add boiling water to cover herbs.

Coffee Maker or Tea Maker
Not exactly traditional, but a coffee maker works in a pinch at home or office and keeps the tea hot. Buy unbleached filters. You will need to experiment with quantities, but generally, place one and a half to two cups of herbs in your 12-cup coffee maker, add the water and brew. Because the herbs don't steep with this technique, the tea will be milder and you can run water through a second time, if you like. Adjust quantities accordingly for smaller coffee makers. (You can also purchase tea makers, very much like coffee makers.)