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amyable
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Posted: June 21 2006 at 8:17am | IP Logged Quote amyable

Many moons ago I bought a TON of herbs (they were cheaper in bulk ) to make a red raspberry leaf blend for one of my pregnancies. Most of it is still lying around, because I don't have any tea "gadgets" and wouldn't know how to use them if I did!

I have bookmarked the Adagio IngenuiTEA starter set, and I pine over it every few weeks, but I'm afraid it will become just another piece of clutter in my small kitchen. I was wondering if there is a smaller, easier way to do loose tea? I've seen tea balls - what are they?

My girls really want to start up tea time again, and I'd love to use up some of this loose tea (I know it's old, but it still seems to taste OK ) I make it the hard way with a pot of boiling water (not a teapot mind you, just a pot, I don't even have a tea pot!) and a big strainer... (lol, this is why I hardly ever make it)

Could anyone tell me what different tea accessories are for and a detailed description of how to use them? Is there a good beginners tea guide out there? I need to know how to make single servings of tea AND a bunch at once if we do tea time.

Feeling silly for having to ask this at all...

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Elizabeth
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Posted: June 21 2006 at 8:23am | IP Logged Quote Elizabeth

Amy,
There are smaller, but none easier, than the Ingenuitea. If you like, I can send you a $5 gift certificate to Adagio. I htink part of the beauty of the Ingenuitea is that the tea leaf has lots of space in the water to unfurl. In tea balls, the leaves are still cramped.

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Mary Chris
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Posted: June 21 2006 at 9:32am | IP Logged Quote Mary Chris

Amy,

I definitely do not regret purchasing the Ingenuitea, I cannot wait for them to get their bigger size one in stock. If you don't need to make a lot of tea you could purchase one of the ceramic teapots. I picked these up as gifts for a few friends and I think they are pleased with them. My children are not big tea drinkers, they prefer hot cocoa , and when they do drink tea it is from smaller tea cups not the BIG mugs that I like to use.

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Posted: June 21 2006 at 9:41am | IP Logged Quote stefoodie

Tea Infusers at Village Roaster

There's a great variety at that link. There are also Thai and other Asian tea steepers, made of fabric, etc. at Asian stores.

My favorites are the Swiss Gold mesh filter (cheaper at our local store than at Village Roaster by about $6), and the Republic of Tea's mesh basket which I use when preparing tea for myself.

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amyable
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Posted: June 26 2006 at 7:05am | IP Logged Quote amyable

Elizabeth wrote:

There are smaller, but none easier, than the Ingenuitea. If you like, I can send you a $5 gift certificate to Adagio.   


Easy is good! Very good. Something not too breakable is good here too.    If it's not too much trouble I'd love the $5 gift certificate. It will take some of the *ouch* out of getting myself something.

marychris wrote:

I definitely do not regret purchasing the Ingenuitea, I cannot wait for them to get their bigger size one in stock.


They have a bigger one? I couldn't find it on the website. How big? That might be perfect. My girls are not big tea drinkers yet, but I'd love to be able to make enough for them and/or friends if I ever start getting my act together enough to have regular company.


And thank you for the other link Stef! Lots of interesting stuff there. There is an asian market not too far from me that I need to go check out - I'll look there too. Thanks for the advice!

And thank you everyone for your help. I feel so silly asking these simplistic questions. No one in my extended family has ever done more than stick a teabag in a cup, lol.

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Mary Chris
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Posted: June 26 2006 at 8:47am | IP Logged Quote Mary Chris

Amy,

Here is the
32oz Ingenuitea. I am not sure when it is suppose to be in stock, but you can click on notify me.

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Mary Chris
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Posted: June 26 2006 at 9:02am | IP Logged Quote Mary Chris

When I clicked on extras I found this Iced Tea Duo Set, so I guess I am waiting until the end of July for the 32oz Ingenuitea.

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amyable
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Posted: June 26 2006 at 9:31am | IP Logged Quote amyable

marychris wrote:
Amy,

Here is the
32oz Ingenuitea. I am not sure when it is suppose to be in stock, but you can click on notify me.


Thanks Mary Chris! I clicked on "notify me" so hopefully we'll both have some "ingenuitea" in the not so distant future.

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Posted: June 26 2006 at 9:31pm | IP Logged Quote Cici

Can I ask a question here? Does loose leaf tea really taste that much better? I must be part of Amy's extended family - because all we have around here are a few boxes of grocery store bought, bagged, herbal tea.

I'm usually a coffee drinker, truth be told, but I'm in the early stages of pregnancy and (like with my oldest) drinking coffee makes me nautious (yes, I know, odd). Anyway, I'm looking for a "replacment-warm-cuppa" to get me through the next 7 months or so - and I guess longer if I can like it that much.

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Mary Chris
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Posted: Aug 10 2006 at 9:09pm | IP Logged Quote Mary Chris

Amy,

I just ordered my 32oz Ingenuitea.

A few weeks ago I was in Wegmans (do you have that grocery store yet) and they are carrying the Adiagio tea.

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