As tea lovers, you already know that loose-leaf tea takes a little more preparation and can mean extra washing up. Here, we offer a solution for a simple, practical infusion with no fuss.
Tea bags, tea infuser or teapot: which is the best method for brewing loose-leaf tea?
- Tea bags are wonderfully convenient for brewing loose-leaf tea: they take up almost no space and require no washing, since they are disposable. One important thing to look out for: always choose unbleached bags. That is why we recommend our empty tea bags, which are also biodegradable. Perfectly suited for infusing, they give the leaves all the room they need to fully unfurl and release their flavours. Tea bags also have another advantage: they can brew very fine teas such as Rooibos, which tends to slip through most other infusers.
- The mesh tea ball is a decent alternative to tea bags, though metal infusers are generally best avoided: they can impart a metallic taste and increase the acidity of the tea. Tea balls also tend to be too narrow, restricting water circulation and preventing the leaves from infusing properly. That said, they are easy to clean.
- Finally, there is the teapot, which is ideal when you want to brew a full litre of tea, but less practical when you only need a single cup.
As you can see, when it comes to brewing loose-leaf tea, tea bags really are the most versatile option.
