For the very best results, actively boiling water should not come into contact with metal. This means you shouldn't use a teapot or kettle with a metal lining, but you can use a kettle that has a ceramic lining. Many kettles these days have exactly that, so check before purchasing a kettle. Boiling water that has had contact with metal will produce an inferior tea, but you can absolutely use a metal strainer or tea ball for steeping the tea. This is one of the reasons you allow the boiling water to rest for a minute.
There are several different ways to make your teas. One popular way is to place the plant material directly into the teapot. No strainer, no bagging. Just right in the teapot. Boil the water in a kettle, allow the water to rest a moment so the boiling stops, then pour the water directly over the plant material. Allow the tea to steep for several minutes. This is a very beautiful way to make tea, especially if you're using a clear teapot. You can watch the plant material swirl as the tea deepens in color. When the tea is ready, simply pour it through a strainer into a cup and drink.
There are, of course, other ways to make your teas. You can bag your plant material using clean organza bags or even buy grocery store teas. Perhaps you like to use the tea balls that cage the plant material inside them. These spoons are only designed to make a single cup of tea, but that can be handy if you only need a single cup of tea. There are also cups that come with strainers. These are yet another way to enjoy only one cup.
Another great way to make teas is using a French press. You can get them almost anywhere now and they are quite useful if you're going to start making teas as herbal preparations. A French press is basically a small glass pitcher with a top. This top features a type of plunger with a screen. It's easy enough to use and they often come with instructions, but basically you place the plant material in the pitcher and top with hot water. Place the lid in place, making absolutely sure the plunger is above the plant material. This is important. Allow the tea to steep for as long as you like. Like other tea preparation methods, the longer you let it sit the stronger the tea will be. When you're ready, push down on the plunger. This will force the plant material into the bottom of the pitcher, trapping it. Pour the tea into a cup and enjoy. It takes about the same amount of time as a more traditional way of preparing tea, so consider investing in a French press if you're interested in making tea frequently.
Tea bags work, of course, as do tea balls. Tea bags can be purchased empty, but you won't save any money that way. They cost the same as they do if they're already filled and they have to be thrown out after one use. If you're only planning on using herbs that already come in teas, you can save yourself some trouble and use tea bags from the grocery store. They have peppermint tea, chamomile tea and several other types that might be useful. As long as they contain the real herb and nothing but the real herb, they'll do just fine. If you want to make your own tea bags, you can buy small organza bags made for just this purpose. These can be cleaned, if you like, and reused.
Tea balls work just as well. Place the plant material in the cage, close the cage, and let it steep. If you're going to use a tea ball, spend a little more and get a stainless steel one. Get a good one. Cheap ones don't seal well and will leave you with plant matter floating in your tea. Not great.
There's another way to turn your herbs into teas, one that takes a little time but gives you an extraordinary product and requires no boiling of water. Sun tea is a marvelous thing that has been used for centuries to create teas and concoctions used to heal people. It's simple to make and tastes quite delicious when served over ice.
Start with the right ratios. In general, you'll want about 2 ounces of plant material for every 2 quarts of water. If you want it more flavorful, add more plant material. You can really add as much as you like as long as you like the taste. Place the plant material and the water in a clear glass or BPA-free plastic container. Put the lid on and make sure there's just a little ventilation. You can leave the lid askew a bit if you like. Just make sure air can move a little bit. Just a little.
Set the container in the sun for at least one full day. This means you won't be drinking the tea until at least 24 hours after you start making it, so take this into account before you start. You may wish to leave the tea for longer. When the tea is ready, pour it through a strainer. For best results, serve over ice. It sounds like a lot of work, but sun tea is delicious. Give it a try. You may find yourself abandoning the kettle for a pitcher in no time.
It's the ingredients in your tea that give it the magickal and medicinal properties, so choose your ingredients with care. And remember that not all herbs are meant to be taken internally. Research carefully before making your own teas.
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