Whether or not you’re new to the world of tea and didn’t know that you just wanted an infuser otherwise you merely forgot to select one up alongside together with your newest unfastened tea haul, you may end up in a bind.
How will you be capable to take pleasure in your scrumptious tea with out the right instruments? It’s a dilemma that just about each tea lover has discovered themselves in.
Reading: How to brew loose leaf tea without an infuser
Earlier than you collapse right into a psychological breakdown, relaxation assured that there are nonetheless methods to drink your tea. All it takes is a bit creativity and some home items you probably have already got laying round.
Table of Contents
1 – Attempt it the Previous-Long-established Method
In historic China, tea was all the time brewed with out an infuser. As an alternative of filtering their tea, the traditional Chinese language brewed their tea in what is named a “Gaiwan.” A Gaiwan is basically a big ceramic teapot with a large high.
With a view to pressure your tea leaves, all you might want to do is place a saucer or plate over the pot, and pour. The highest serves as a makeshift filter and is simply as efficient as utilizing an infuser.
An genuine Gaiwan can be perfect on this case however as of late, it’s probably that you just don’t have one in all these nifty pots mendacity round. Don’t fret; you’ll be able to all the time improvise.
A daily teapot with out the lid can be your greatest wager however a daily espresso or tea mug works too. You’ll be able to even give it a attempt with a small bowl!
The steps are straightforward to comply with: add your tea leaves (larger tea leaves work higher) and add sizzling water. When you’ve steeped the tea leaves to your liking, seize a plate with an analogous width as the highest of the pot and use it to pressure the leaves.
You might wish to apply this technique a number of occasions utilizing chilly water with a view to grasp it earlier than attempting it with boiling-hot water. In any other case, you could burn your self, which might make having fun with your tea very tough.
2 – Use a French Press
For those who’re simply as a lot a fan of espresso as you might be of tea, maybe you already personal a French press. Though these little gadgets are sometimes used for brewing espresso, they work simply as properly with tea leaves.
Simply as you’d with common espresso grounds, add the tea leaves to the underside of the French press. Subsequent up, add your boiling water. Let the tea leaves steep for a bit earlier than pushing the press right down to pressure them. Subsequent, pour into your mug.
This technique works properly for individuals who choose chilly tea as you’ll be able to merely depart the press within the fridge for a number of hours and voila! Immediate iced tea, to not point out that the additional time steeping will make your tea that rather more flavorful.
3 – Espresso Filters Work for Tea Too!
Whereas on the subject of espresso, let’s discuss espresso filters. Normally reserved to your espresso pot, espresso filters are simply as helpful when making tea. Though you’ll be able to brew your tea in a espresso pot, you’re much less prone to get espresso grounds in your tea should you use the espresso filter by itself.
For this technique, you’re going to wish to seize your trusty tea mug and your favourite loose-leaf tea. Seize your paper espresso filter and place it contained in the mug.
Read more: When did iced coffee become popular
Subsequent, add the tea leaves. Observe it up by pouring over sizzling water and letting it steep. See? Simply the identical as espresso!
After sufficient time, your tea ought to be able to go. Take the filter out, leaves and all, and luxuriate in! Bonus factors should you use a spoon to press down on the tea-filled espresso filter to extract as a lot water from it as attainable.
4 – Double Cup it up!
This technique is similar to the Gaiwan technique. As an alternative of utilizing a teapot and saucer, nevertheless, all you’ll need are two mugs.
Put the tea leaves into one mug, then fill it with sizzling water. As soon as it has steeped lengthy sufficient, begin pouring into the empty mug. Use the sting of the mug to filter out any of the leaves.
Be warned that this technique tends to get a bit messy. We advocate doing this over your sink simply in case you get a number of spillage.
5 – Put money into Your Personal Tea Luggage
For those who’re extra on the DIY aspect of issues, you could be desirous about bagging your personal tea. You should buy tea filter baggage that come prepared so that you can fill them together with your favourite loose-leaf teas.
Remember that going with this technique could be tedious and time-consuming. However, should you’ve acquired the time and the persistence (or sufficient helpers), you can also make your self sufficient do-it-yourself tea baggage that you just’ll by no means have to fret about discovering an infuser once more!
6 – Dig By means of Your Kitchen Drawers for a Appropriate Substitute
Anybody with a well-stocked kitchen is bound to have a strainer someplace. It’s a cooking important that you just or somebody you recognize is certain to have.
Whereas it may not be meant for straining loose-leaf teas, it does a superbly good job of it.
You’ll additionally want a tea pot or two mugs for this to be successful. Upon getting every part you want, place the tea leaves within the mug or tea pot and let it steep.
Observe up by pouring over the strainer and right into a clear mug. For those who don’t have a strainer, you’ll be able to comply with this similar technique through the use of a cheesecloth, which works simply as properly.
7 – Dig up a Spork!
A spork, a fork’s cooler older cousin, additionally makes a fantastic different to a tea infuser. What’s higher is that you would be able to cease by most fast-food chains and decide one up should you don’t have already got one in your junk drawer.
Sporks are extra helpful thank forks as a result of they haven’t onlyteeth but in addition a scoop that can catch any of the larger tea leaves.
8 – Flour Sifters Aren’t Only for Baking
Bakers and tea lovers alike, pay attention up! Your flour sifter isn’t only for baking! That’s proper — you learn this proper. For those who’re quick a tea infuser however completely must have tea proper this very second, now’s your time to place that flour sifter to make use of.
Read more: How long to let tea steep
This works equally to a strainer, through which you merely use the flour sifter to pressure your tea leaves. Be cautious when utilizing this technique, although, as some tea leaves could also be too small to be strained and may nonetheless find yourself in your mug.
9 – Paper Towels Can Do Extra Than Simply Clear up Your Messes
Paper towels are one thing that just about everybody has helpful. They’re perfect for cleansing up messes, wiping down surfaces, and making tea!
Just like a cheesecloth, paper towels can filter your loose-leaf tea to present you that excellent cup of tea that you just’ve been craving.
Even should you don’t have paper towels, a serviette will get the job executed simply as properly. You should use a paper towel or serviette as you’d a espresso filter. Place it in a mug, add the tea leaves, then pour over the new water. Let steep.
As soon as it’s sat lengthy sufficient, take out the paper towel. Watch out to not depart it in too lengthy because the paper towel may begin to disintegrate proper into your mug.
10 – Water Bottle Tea Infusers Are Your Greatest Good friend
For those who’re on the lookout for a solution to make your loose-leaf tea on the go however don’t wish to take care of something that entails strainers, paper towels, or too many mugs, you’ll be able to all the time spend money on a water bottle tea infuser.
These are one other solution to make scrumptious iced tea and work by filling up the infuser in the course of the water bottle with tea leaves.
Add water, and let sit. You’ll be able to drink it sizzling or chilly; simply guarantee that your water bottle isn’t made from plastic should you’re including sizzling water.
With a water bottle infuser, you’ll be able to simply take your favourite beverage round with you wherever you go.
11 – Aluminum Foil: Not Only for Saving Leftovers
Aluminum foil is a kind of supplies that’s straightforward to control. You’ll be able to mildew it into nearly any form possible.
The excellent news is that you would be able to additionally mildew it right into a tea infuser once you’re missing one. All you might want to do is roll your loose-leaf tea into an aluminum foil ball after which poke holes in it.
When you’ve executed that, you’ll be able to pour water over it and let it steep.
12 – The Final Resort
For those who’ve reached your wits’ finish and easily don’t have any of the aforementioned objects in your possession, you’ll be able to all the time simply suck it up and drink your tea unfiltered. It may not be perfect however your tea will style simply the identical, if not higher.
The worst that would occur is you get a number of tea leaves caught in your tooth! Plus, when you’re executed, you’ll be able to learn your tea leaves and discover out what the longer term has in retailer for you (hopefully, a brand new tea leaf infuser!).
Read more: How to make peppermint tea taste better
