A problem that you might have run into already is having loose tea that you want to steep, but you do not have anything available to help you with steeping it or infusing it.
However, you may not know that there are plenty of homemade or DIY solutions to this issue that are completely food safe and simple as well as easy.
When you look at people who enjoy tea, you will see that there are plenty of people who love how convenient a tea bag is, especially when compared to loose leaves.
However, in recent years, people have started to recognize that when a tea bag is steeped, there is a chance that they release microplastics into the water.
On top of this, there are other reasons why loose leaf tea has started to slowly regain its popularity. However, this does not mean that everyone has a tool for helping them steep loose leaf tea available at all times.
So, whether you steep loose leaf tea regularly, or whether you are trying it for the first time, we are sure there are some DIY methods of steeping this tea (see also: How Long To Steep Tea)that you are not aware of.
Make sure that you read through all of our options so you can see which option will get you the best results and you can see which will work best for you.
So, if you have not got any traditional ways of preparing loose leaf tea available, but you have no idea what will work best, keep on reading!
Lazy Coffee Filter
This is perhaps one of our most simple options when it comes to preparing loose leaf tea. This is because using a coffee filter for loose leaf tea is actually pretty easy and is similar to how you would prepare a standard coffee.
All you will need to do when preparing tea in this method is to put the coffee filter right in your mug, and then put in the perfect amount of loose leaf tea.
After this you want to pour the hot water over the leaves and let it steep for the normal amount of time. These coffee filters are common to find in different public settings like offices, but can also be found in the home.
These are a simple and economical solution for preparing loose leaf tea, and once it is ready, you can simply take out the filter and drink!
Make Your Own Tea Bags With A Coffee Filter
If you want a different method for using coffee filters to brew loose leaf tea, you can actually make your own tea bag using coffee filters.
While some suggest using a cheesecloth for this method, this is not something people usually have lying about, while coffee filters are a lot more common.
However, if you are the type of person to have fabric lying around, you could do this using scrap fabric, just ensure that it is food safe.
Instead of using a staple or sewing to keep the leaves secure, all you have to do is fold the leaves in and hook the bag onto the edge of the mug.
Make sure not to pack it too tight as you want room for the leaves to expand and be able to move around a bit.
Pour On Using A Lid
This is not one of our favorite methods since it is so tricky and requires a lot of precision, but with practice it can work. You want to put a flat lid over your mug that has the tea leaves and the water.
Then you want to leave a gap between the mug rim and the lid and pour out the liquid once brewed trying to keep as many leaves in as possible.
However, since the leaves are so small this is difficult, and the method also tends to be pretty messy as well.
Colander
A colander can sometimes be just as useful as an infuser, however, you will need to ensure that the hole size is small enough to be able to trap the leaves.
This is why it is recommended to steep your tea in a larger container before you eventually transfer it into a mug, this will save excess liquid getting saved.
Also, you want to keep in mind what the colander has been used for as there is a chance that flavors can be transferred.
Sieve
You can use a full sized sieve for this step quite easily, but you will have a lot more of an easier time if you use a mini sieve instead since they usually fit in a mug perfectly.
If you drink matcha quite often, you might already own one of these since they are used for sifting matcha to get it to a fine powder before the drink is made.
Either way, these sieves are often the perfect emergency tool for infusing your loose leaf tea with since they have such tight gaps.
Pot And A Lid
Similar to the lid method, you can often find pots that have smaller draining holes on the lid which are perfect for straining out tea.
While sometimes these holes are a little too big, they are usually functional and will get you good results. It is also convenient to use this method since you can directly move the tea from your stove into your mug.
However, depending on the size of your lid holes, you may have to deal with some excess leaves making their way in.
A Foil Tea Bag
There are other methods of making a DIY tea bag, and another that we have not mentioned is making one using foil. All you have to do is make a small square of foil and then poke small holes in it using a sharp tool.
Then you can put your leaves into this square and seal it making sure the edges are tight. Once it is sealed you want to ensure that it has room for the tea leaves to expand, and then you can use it to make your tea with!
Using A Coffee Cup And A Lid
If you only have a to go coffee cup on you, then this is a great DIY method to know. You will need one of the coffee cups with a small hole for sipping on as this will help you separate the liquid from the leaves.
You simply want to infuse the tea in the coffee cup, and once it is ready, you want to slowly pour out the tea making sure to leave most of the leaves in the original cup. If you are patient enough, this method can be highly effective.
French Press
While this is not a tool you will usually have when you are on the go, it is a great one to have at your disposal.
Not many people know that a French press can be used like this, but this is a method which is often used by some baristas. So, while these tools are marketed for use with coffee, they work just as well with tea.
Summary
While not all of these methods are as effective as each other, hopefully you have found one that uses tools you have at your disposal!
