How to Steep Tea

Here in Winchester and the surrounding areas, we are getting food waste bins this coming October. This has caused many people to take another look at their habits more closely, and one that comes up time and again is tea drinking. 

As many know, most teabags contain plastic, and are therefore not compostable. (If you would like to read more about that, please see this blog post.) So, the next logical step is loose leaf tea. The problem there is, we've been used to teabags for so long that it can be intimidating to switch - what do you need, is it messier, how can I get started?

Firstly, you need to find a tea you would like! Explore online or in person in Char, or perhaps you already have a Char favourite you tried at one of Winchester's local cafes. 

Once you have found your tea, you will need something to steep it with! Char have a range of options for this which can be a little intimidating, so let's talk through them together.

Loose Tea Strainer with Drip Saucer

A fantastic option if you are using teapot that has no infuser built in, this mesh strainer is designed to catch leaves as you pour your brewed tea! It comes with a rest to protect your surfaces from tea stains once you have used it as well, so minimal cleanup! 

Tea Tongs

Similar in concept, these tea tongs are comprised of two half moons of mesh that meet together so you can fill it halfway for a cup and create a seal that allows the tea to infuse! Filling halfway allows the tea leaves space to open up and release more of their flavour.

Tea Ball Infuser on a Chain

Slightly more fiddly than the tea tongs, ball infusers have a latch mechanism where the two half moons meet which keeps your tealeaves enclosed. These have charming options for handles, making for a whimsical and personal gift.

Permanent Steel Infuser 

Fans of Rooibos teas, this is one for you. This elegant and practical infuser is a firm favourite for anyone who is on the go a lot or enjoys a tea with famously small components as with Rooibos tea, as it has no join for the leaves to escape through as the tea ball or tongs do. This infuser sits in your cup/mug (the handles measure 4 inches, so will fit most mugs) and after use, there is a rest which protects your surfaces. 

Different teas will require different brewing approaches, with some requiring lower temperature water and some less time to infuse, so be sure to check the brewing instructions on the label.

Welcome to the world of loose leaf tea!