Embarrassed loose tea question...

[wangle99]

DH bought me a lovely tea hamper for Christmas that had a lovely little teapot and loose leaf tea in it. I have never used loose leaf tea before and have no idea how much to use. There was brewing instructions on the packet but not instructions on how much you need to put in the teapot! Help!

Depends how strong you like your tea, but the old rule was a teaspoon per person plus one for the pot. If you usually use one teabag per person that should be fairly equivalent.

Is there a special spoon with it for measuring? The rule was always 'one for each person and one for the pot' - so tea for two needed three spoons of leaves. It is hit and miss, you find out by trial and error really.

How lovely, agree with the one teasoon each and one for the pot

Unless there are half a dozen people wanting tea, in which case it might get rather strong! Max of 4 per pot, IIRC.

A teaspoon per person and one for the pot.

Thank you! Am going to make myself a cup of tea now using it. I think DH was a bit upset I haven't made a cup before now but I think I would have probably used way too much.

Is there a strainer too? I remember my gran having a tea strainer, like a tiny sieve.

I used to work in Betty's tea rooms, so have made a lot of tea. Find out how many cups your teapot holds. Then use one heaped teaspoon per person plus one for the cup. And you will absolutely need a tea strainer.

and whatever you do,you MUST warm the pot with boili mn g water first, it is the law. And bring the pot to the kettle not the kettle to the pot when it's time to pour the hw.
Bettys tearoom I love them!!!!

Am I the only one not keen on Bettys? Way too expensive for what it is, and the queues! It's just not worth it.

It also depends on the type of tea you use.

I assume this is black tea.

White and green teas both vary in the amount needed for a decent cuppa.

But as a general rule, yes, one per person and one for the pot.