A Teapot Full Of ...?
Which teas do you enjoy so much that you steep them in a teapot rather than in a teacup/mug?
Which one tea do you most often steep in a teapot?
I’m a new coffee → tea convert. I’m only using teabags presently, but big plans to purchase & brew some loose teas this weekend. I suspect a teapot is great for sharing, but at the moment I’m the only one in the household that has tea regularly. I will need to learn how to steep the appropriate amount of tea leaves without being wasteful. I also need to research some threads about re-steeping
I always get out my teapot for Earl Grey to share with my husband. He is a coffee drinker but will have Earl Grey with me happily and it’s also one of my favourites so it’s a win/win situation. I have two styles of teapot, one that uses bags and the other that uses loose leaves.
There are no particular brands that I use over the other but I like to vary them often.
Always steep my teas in a teapot, loose or tea bags, not just one favorite – except Lemon/Ginger when I’m not feeling good and I put that in a mug. Probably because I can only drink one cup of an herbal, be it Lem/Gin or peppermint.
My system is to brew all teas in a teapot (or lately a mason jar so I can watch the leaves unfurl), then pour it off into my thermal travel mug. Then I can pour it into my favorite tea glass just a little bit at a time and enjoy it slowly without it going cold.
It’s the most aesthetically pleasing but practical way I’ve found to enjoy my morning and afternoon tea!
I know! I think they are so fun. I don’t even like Classico pasta sauce that much, but sometimes I buy it just for the jar… :) I have a few normal teapots, but the other day I was looking at my mason jars and realized they’d be perfect. They have markings on the side for volume and it’s so nice to see the tea steeping!
You can buy them locally in flats of a dozen. I use them for miniature sun tea jugs in the summer, to store bulk dry tea, sugar, rice, pint-size drinking glasses … now that I think of it, I have some little squat ones that would make nice votive candle holders.
Yay! Yes, I’ve seen them for sale around here too. They are only about $1.50 each for the large ones, so I may have to pick up a few for iced tea this summer. :)
I only have 1 teapot, and it holds enough to fill my mug. So, uhh, there’s no difference really. I use it when all my brew baskets are full/dirty. :) Sometimes I use mason jars (1 litre), especially when making iced tea in the summer.
started out in mugs when i had no teaware but it spilled a lot and so i borrowed 1 small teapot from my aunt which became 2 (no, it didnt break) and my mom’s precious porcelain teapot that was for display only :P
and then i discovered several small chinese cups at home. so i steep a small amt of tea in one cup and then pour in the other cup. this way, i got to try lots of different teas without getting tea-logged.
just got a kyusu (small japanese ceramic teapot) and i must say, i like it better than a gaiwan (tho i have not tried a gaiwan yet) for gongfu. but i still use the small chinese cups most often as i like to taste a few teas at the same time :)
so..um. i can’t answer your question specifically. but i steep what needs to be tasted most urgently :D
Dumb newbie questions, but it seems approp to ask here: when steeping in a teapot, is the steep time any diff than in a mug? Also, I’m sure there are steeping instructions for loose teas as to how many teaspoons or leaves for XX cups of teas. But how much life does a typical tea bag hold? When brewing larger pots of tea from bags how do you determine the correct number of bags without fear of bitterness?
when steeping in a teapot, is the steep time any diff than in a mug?
not that i know of..but a smaller pot is said to be better able to bring out the flavor (as in gaiwan) but of course it should be big enough for the leaves to unfurl fully
Also, I’m sure there are steeping instructions for loose teas as to how many teaspoons or leaves for XX cups of teas. But how much life does a typical tea bag hold?
1tsp = 8oz generally. depending on how strong you want it. i resteep my teabags til there’s nothing left, lol.
When brewing larger pots of tea from bags how do you determine the correct number of bags without fear of bitterness?
you might have to ask the company. Harneys sachets can brew 16oz each :)
Hello CC,
Generally speaking, always follow the directions on the tea package as a starting point and then modify if necessary to suit your taste.
You can also check out the tea reviews on Steepster for tea specific brewing instructions. For example: http://steepster.com/looseTman/posts/164820#likes
Note: In the world of tea, a “cup” is typically not an 8 oz cup, it’s a 6 oz teacup.
Per Upton Tea Importers: “…industry standard of 2¼ grams per 6-ounce cup.”
However, to add to the confusion:
1.) Some tea suppliers will say 1 tsp per 8 oz. So always double-check the directions for each tea.
2.) And because loose tea varies is size and can be quite long, measuring with a teaspoon may not always provide 2¼ grams:
https://secure.uptontea.com/shopcart/item.asp?from=catalog.asp&itemID=AR44&begin=0&parent=Accessories%3ETeaware%3EInfusion+Aids&category=Scales&sortMethod=0&categoryID=188
See also: https://secure.uptontea.com/shopcart/information/INFObrewing.asp
One of the most comprehensive brewing guides I’m aware of can be found here:
http://www.teavivre.com/info/recommend-brewing-guide/
Notice that this guide goes as far to specify brewing temperatures for each specific tea.
Thus, you might consider: http://www.davidstea.com/thermometer-and-timer?&TF=3B9DBE9A142D&DEID
From our personal experience,
We have a “6-cup” 40 oz insulated teapot:
http://www.amazon.com/Tea-Services-Soho-Teapot-Insulated/dp/B004T8FMRK
See also this review & the comments below it: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1HCGG7I83D7PV/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R1HCGG7I83D7PV
When we make a pot of Earl Grey, Chinese Keemun #1, or Yunnan Dian Hong style black loose tea, we’ve used 1 teaspoon per cup with a 5-min steep time and it is not bitter.
For grocery store tea sold in teabags, such as Red Rose, figure 1 teabag per teacup / cup.
Depending on the tea you choose “Your Mileage May Vary” (YMMV).
I hope this helps.
Sincere thanks for taking the time to provide such a detailed response. The links are great!
I prefer to make 2 to 3 cup teapots for majority of my tea drinkings, but I broke my tea pot recently and still in mourning to buy a new one.
For bigger, say a 24oz tea pot – I tend to make tea that I won’t get tired of drinking the entire pot while I work. Lately – Steep City’s Coconut Grove or Bursting Lychee or really good unflavored whites or jasmines.
I use a teapot for my blacks. (large one and adjust the amount of tea accordingly)
oolong in a gaiwan, as my recent experiment/discovery with young pu ehr,
green tea in a mug.
i have a yixing, but haven’t seasoned it, don’t know if I’ll use it for my fave oolong, or for a pu ehr later on, so it’s now on display only.
Any good unflavoured black. The beau and I always share tea at home so everything is steeped in a pot. Frequently unflavoured blacks. :)
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