I’m embarrased to say that I don’t know how to make loose tea…I’ve always used the bags. Now my white tea from Adagio came and I don’t know what to do!! :oops:
OT - tea help!
you need some way to strain it–usually you use an infuser basket that is made into the teapot or in spoon form. Most grocery stores even carry them in the form of a little ball with holes in it, you put the tea inside and drop it in your cup. It works just like a tea bag! Hope this helps!
Oh okay! I’ll head to the store or find something here I can strain it with. Thanks!
no problem–look in the regular tea isle…good luck!
Hi!
I love loose tea. I guess you didn’t get a ball or other holder? That’s ok. Does the tea have a label with recommended steeping time? Some vary, I’d say anywhere from 3 to 6 minutes. Do you have a (impecably clean) strainer of some sort?
Bring fresh water to the boiling point - don’t over boil, or you boil the oxygen out. Pour over tea in a teapot or a measuring cup with pour spout. Generally, you’ll use a rounded teaspoon of tea per cup, plus a good pinch. When making a full pot, you want one tsp per cup plus one for the pot.
Let steep for recommended time. Pour through strainer into cup. Most of the tea should settle, so if you don’t have a strainer, you can pour the liquid off the top. Some people like to let the water sit on the leaves in the cup or pot, but it depends on how strong and astringent you like your tea. White tea might be ok if you steep it in your cup and leave it. I’ve not tried white tea. Also, some people think if you add milk to your tea, it stops the brewing action - but I don’t know if milk goes with white tea.
There are different opinions on strainers too. I’ve used the little perforated houses and tea pot shaped strainers - I don’t care for these because they don’t hold enough tea for me. I’m fine with the spoon shaped spring action strainer or my small stainless mesh ball. I just got another bamboo strainer which I really like - make sure to clean first with boiling water - gets some of the woodsy taste out. They do let a few tea fragments slip thru tho. And then there are reusable fabric tea bags, which I’ve never bothered trying. I even have one of those Bodum tea pots that have the plunge strainer - after steeping, you push the plunger and all the tea goes into the bottom of the strainer and can’t brew further.
I 
loose tea…no tea bags for me (and I have to order it online). Below is from Good Eats on the Food Network. I have never had white tea, but I never let any tea steep for more than 3.5 minutes (from the different searches I’ve done it can all get very complicated!).
Place loose tea leaves into a warmed tea kettle. Pour heated water over loose tea leaves. Let steep. Strain tea and serve.
*Note: For Oolong and Green tea, water should simmer at 200 degrees F. and 180 degrees F.
*For Irish and English tea bring water to a full boil.
*Black tea should soak for 3 to 5 minutes. Oolong tea should soak for 4 to 7 minutes. Green Tea should soak for 2 to 3 minutes.
Good drinking 
What an awesome show eh? 
I remember that episode too. 
Wow…thanks everyone! I can’t wait to try it!
I’ve had white tea, but never brewed it myself. I loved it!
Jenelle, yes! I catch it every night at 6 central. Pick up a lot of interesting stuff and see lots of tools I want to have. If I remember the episode right Alton is totally against tea balls and infusers, said they don’t let the leaves expand enough.
Beth
I only fill the balls half way to allow room for expansion, which is why I don’t use the little houses and teapot shaped ones - they’re too teeny. The spoon-shaped infuser is really a little small too. The bamboo basket allows plenty of room.
Love Alton - I totally forgot about that episode. I guess I just brew tea as strong as I like it.
Try Scent by Spirit. Just click on Gourmet Teas and it’ll take you to a list of teas and tea accessories, like teapots and such, she has a pretty wide variety! 
Well RATS! I went to the store…had to hit two before I found stuff…anyhoo I got a tea ball, BUT it won’t open!! I tried using a rubber pot holder and jar opener on it and I still can’t open it! I’m sure DH could do it, but he’s in Tucson this weekend. Waaahhh! 
Does it have a handle kinda like a safety pin? If so, did you squeeze it? If not, post a picture, we can help.
Sorry Jan! I always try them out in the store. Maybe the latch was pinched too tightly? Try sticking a slot head screwdriver between the latch and the frame of the ball. Or is the hinge frozen? How frustrating.
I catch it at 7pm EST. I can say that I am a food network junky :rofling:
Bummer! You can always improvise though. Just put your tea leaves in a bowl and pour over the boiling water. Then if you have a kitchen strainer, just pour into another bowl and let the strainer catch the leaves. White leaves are pretty big once wet so unless your strainer has HUGE holes you should be ok.
I ended up using a coffee filter and it worked pretty well. Just put it on the cup of hot water and put in the tea leaves. When done take the whole thing out. Necessity is the mother of invention. :roflhard: :roflhard:
I never would have thought about using a coffee filter…
How creative and thoughtful!
Brilliant!
Oh and how was the tea??? You have to tell us after all of this!
yes yes, do tell!!!