How do you prefer to make loose leaf tea?

When I run out of bagged tea, I think I'm gonna switch over to leave for the most part. Of course when I don't have enough time, I'll have to use tea bags. But buying it loose in bulk is soooo much cheaper. What do you guys prefer to make it in? I had a ball which I seem to have misplaced. But I'm thinking of getting one of the infusers with the handle on it. I almost always do my tea in a stainless steel mug, and I can't put the lid on when I have a teaball on a chain, so I might as well get an infuser with a handle...then I don't have to worry about the chain dropping in there and having to fish the ball out. But what do you guys prefer? Ball or infuser with the metal handle? Or what? I was thinking teapot, but I want something really small that I can take with me when I'm on the go.

 

I make 5 cups with my teapot since it's green tea then put it in the thermo...thing to keep it hot. Then i have tea for the whole day.

 

i usually just buy empty teabags. handy to have on hand for mushrooms, too....

 

i just bought a little pot that has a wire cage thingy for the loose tea. it seems to infuse much better than the ball. the water flows freely thru the herbs really nicely. i've taken to cutting up teabags and freeing the leaves so that they can swim in the steeping water.


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I like earl grey and I have used tes bad and tea balls. And the me it taste the same. Tea bags are just easier to take with you.

 

Bagged tea is what they sweep off the floor when they're done with the loose tea.

It really is much better.

 

At home I usually use a teapot, first i heat the teapot by pouring boiling water in it then transfer the water to my mug, that way the tea can steep at maximum temperature, this is the traditional way to do things. Then I put the loose tea in the pot and pour boiling water and steep for a few minutes. Sometimes I'll skip the pot and put the loose tea right in my mug instead. I have a ball but I've never used it.

It's a hassel to clean up loose tea at the office so I'll use tea bags instead.