Steeping for Single Cups?
So it only really occurred to me when I sat down to a late breakfast a few minutes ago, when I reached for the teapot out of curiosity, and ended up pouring some Makaibari Second Flush Darjeeling into my cup. Oh, and the leaves had been sitting in the pot for at least a couple hours now, since my parents usually eat early, and the tea had since cooled to room temperature. Only slightly astringent, but it was something I ended up gulping down more like water than tea. A shame, really…
Anyway, it only occurred to me then that it was a sad waste of tea if you were going to do it that way. I taught the house help to brew in a teapot, but the thought never crossed my mind of teaching them how to steep single cups.
How do you go about doing that? Should I use an infuser? Put the leaves in then scoop them out with a spoon after they’re done? I don’t really use an infuser with my teapot, just put a (metal) filter over the cups when I pour it out. Since I hear letting the leaves float freely in the pot is better.
Your help is as always, much appreciated.
I have two methods: The first is a cup with strainer I bought from Teavana during a sale, though others make them as well. It brews about 10 oz, and I lift out the strainer and put it in a glass on the counter. If I want to re-steep, I can put the strainer back in the cup and add water. The link below gives you an idea, but I think mine is much nicer.
http://www.teavana.com/us/en/teaware/tea-cups
My main method is to just use a small one-serving teapot. I have a lovely 10 oz glass teapot that is perfect for a single serving. I use a 4 oz glass teapot for gong-fu (much easier than a gaiwan). The picture below gives you the idea. There is a wire strainer in the spout.
For single cup/mug, I use an infuser right in the mug. It is just so quick, even though cleaning up the leaves is a little tedious. It is great for teas that can be rebrewed if you don’t want to be drowning in tea. (Some days that is a good thing, though.)
I use one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/FORLIFE-Brew-Mug-Extra-Fine-Infuser/dp/B001JPA3Y8
It’s absolutely NOT wrong to use an infuser in the cup.
Thanks for clarifying! Guess I’ll see which is more to my liking… the small pot, or the infuser (though I guess both is a good way to go about it). :)
I use a french press with loose leaf tea.Premeasure the boiling water by pouring it into the mug or cup you want to use and pour into the french press. This is how I get my perfect single cup with loose leaf tea
Sadly, I’m not sure I can get a French Press. Amazon doesn’t ship here, and I don’t know of any speciality coffee shops. Do they sell those at tea shops?
Totally stuck on “house help.” Whoa!
For in cup steeping, I use an infuser and remove it. My infuser is nearly as large as the cup so I am not losing any surface area. Then again, I use an infuser in a pot as well as I am very sensitive to bitterness and prefer to remove the leaves entirely after I am done steeping, rather than let them sit and get stronger.
Yeah, in my country, that kind of service is affordable to the middle class. That’s a pretty good insight, though. An infuser as big as the cup, so as to give the leaves space to grow. Thanks!
I don’t think it’s an issue of affordability here, it’s more…taboo? I’m not sure. I am in a “have not” province in Canada and though I know a few people who have someone clean a few hours a week, there are very few people (if any) who have regular help. Of course, these sort of attitudes are very regional, I imagine.
“Only a few people who have someone clean a few hours a week” Whoa!
Practically every single household has someone come to clean the house, often several times a day here.
I’m from Canada too, and I have to admit, my reaction was along the same lines as Uniquity’s. I read that sentence twice because I thought I’d misread it the first time.
The two people I know who have someone clean have her in for 2 or 3 hours, one day a week. She does this for a number of others though, and makes a very good wage (at least $20 per hour). She also has a farm, and is a very busy woman! She takes care of the “big stuff” – laundry or cleaning walls, bathrooms, and ceilings and things that people don’t tend to get to on their own time. Then the homeowners do usual housekeeping in between. I think there is an attitude against having anyone that could be construed as a servant around here, even if they are being paid well. For reference, minimum wage in NS is $10.60 and I don’t think you could hire someone to clean for that little. Again, I think this is very regional though. I am sure that there are areas in Canada that have different ideas, likely larger cities.
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