How do you make tea with this? I assume it must be loose leaf.
778036
Put the loose leaf tea at the bottom. It should work with almost any tea except matcha, since that's such a fine powder. Then pour the boiling water on top (for almost all black teas), water just before boiling point for oolong and the most robust herbal teas, or about 160 degrees for green teas or herbal teas that lose flavor when the water's too hot.The disadvantage to using it over a tea ball is that you do need to pour almost immediately or the tea will get too strong.
778037
For loose tea, the mesh in the plunger will tamp down the leaves. You can use tea bags in the same way.
778038
Yes, I'd recommend loose leaf... mesh is very fine, but the powder type wont work.
778039
I've made loose leaf & tea bags....same way as coffee....with excellent results. You have to be the judge as to how much tea to use, depending on how strong you want the tea to be. I've made hot tea and tea for iced tea. I love this item...tea keeps without growing stale, same as coffee. No metal and no plastic makes for a great brew!
778040
This works equally well as a tea pot, you just measure your fresh loose leaf tea and place it in the container, pour in the hot, not quite boiling water wait a minute or so and apply the press. Makes wonderful tea. Haven't used tea bags at this time but it would probably work well also.
640668
We sometimes use tea bags in the press. Easier to press out without taking the bags out of the water and it steeps very well even this way. No residue this way but even with loose leaves you'll expect very fine particles to get out, but not enough to ruin the taste.
762116
I don't see why you couldn't but are you aware that a lot of teas should never be put into boiling water? A lot of teas actually are recommended to be done at lower temperatures. I'm not trying to solicit but I am part of a company that does sell loose leaf tea and there is a tea app if you have an apple or android cell phone that you can download for free. Go to your app store and look up Tealightful It has a lot of great information about all types of tea.
135977
Why on earth would you want to waste this tea maker with tea bags? Loose leaf is the only way to go!
948749
Yes put loose tea in the metal infuser put the infuser in the tea pot and put boiled water in tea pot. After about two minutes remove the tea leaves or the whole infuser and drink your tea
755616
I just posted a you tube video, showing you how to use your ice tea maker. Hope that helps.
1369285
The packaging says that it would be good for loose leaf tea, but I feel that the slits would be too large and the leaves would fall through. You could always wrap the leaves in cheese cloth and put it in the ball, or I have had success putting some ground spices in a coffee filter and folding it up and putting it in the ball with fruit.
879163
OMG you NEVER put porcelain on the burner!! Proper method is to boil good water and then pour around a half cup of hot water into the pot to warm it and clear any debris. Then measure around 1 tsp of bulk tea for each 6 oz tea cup - in this case for a 6 cup pot - around two table spoons or one oz. Then pot fill with boiling water, stir briefly once to get it started, and steep for at least ten minutes. Use a "tea cozy" to keep the pot warm at the table, and a tea sieve to strain out bits of tea leaf when pouring into cups. This pot is a "fancy" and not intended for everyday use. But at a mini "high tea" though, the grand kids love it. It also works with a group of friends over to play cards! TIP: with good teas you can get at least one, maybe two, extra good pots using same tea leaves! just refill w/boiling water.
1363776
I haven't tried to make tea, the holes are large enough for loose tea to fall into the hot water. You could use it to infuse already brewed tea with flavors. I mostly use it to flavor water with crushed mint.
1581046
You will need a steeper, as it is loose. I use a tsp/16 oz hot, but not boiling water, and let steep at least ten minutes.
1112903
Loose leaf but somewhat fine. I use a metal ball strainer and get small bits of fine tea at the bottom of the cup. Most brands ive used always leave a little behind with that style stariner though
654749
haven't tried to use loose leaf tea - I usually put in 4-5 bags of regular tea, then set it in the sun without using the infuser BUT I just checked the infuser out and there are really alot of slots - maybe 3/8" by 1/8" - maybe you could put the loose tea in a very fine silk bag in the infuser (but now that I think that through, you wouldn't really need the infuser...But I do LOVE the size, shape and feel of this product - good luck...and now that I've said that, I read the other responses so it sounds like we're all in agreement tho peppermint or mint would definitely work...
706283
I wouldn't even if it's ok. But you can prepare your tea the same I prepare coffee. Put the loose tea leaves first. Then pour the boiling water on top. Cover with the plunger/filter at the level of the water. Wait until the desired strength and then push the plunger/filter all the down. Wait a little bit and then pour the tea in your cup. Enjoy.
1513920
Either method will work. I prefer loose leaf for natural flavor. The first pot is to wash "remove any unwanted substance in the tea leaf". Enjoy the 2nd and 3rd pot.
1254341
Try buying the Lipton yellow label loose leaf tea from amazon. I got a pound for ~$10 and it works great (http://smile.amazon.com/dp/4639725043/) and should make many gallons of tea. The taste is similar to Lipton bags but smoother (and better) in my opinion. I've been using 2 1/2 tablespoons of tea per pitcher and brewing for 4-5 minutes.
220580
Yes, that's the first thing I did when I got mine. I made a pot of tea. Since then I have made tea with both loose tea and tea bags. Turns out fine either way. Seems to work well for either tea or coffee. It's not scalding hot, but hot enough.
2250340
I bought it for my husband & he uses tea bags. Hasn't even used the mesh basket for loose leaf tea. I don't think the mesh basket is tight enough to hold a powder tea in. Maybe you could but the powdered tea in cheese cloth & then in the mesh basket?