How to Brew Loose Tea Without A Strainer

There's something about brewing tea that just feels relaxing and therapeutic, especially when you're using loose tea leaves. But if you don't have a strainer, it can be tricky to figure out how to brew your tea without making a mess. Not to worry – we've got you covered! In this blog post, we'll show you how to brew loose tea without a strainer using simple techniques. So sit back, relax, and let's get started!

Use Gaiwan to Brew Loose Tea

The most common way to brew loose tea without a strainer is to use a gaiwan. With one exception (which we'll review below), all of our teas are sold in the appropriate quantities for brewing with a gaiwan. To brew loosed tea using a gaiwan, just follow these simple steps:

Step 1. Start With a Clean Gaiwan

To begin, place your clean gaiwan on your saucer and add just enough hot water to wet the inside of the gaiwan. This is referred to as 'rinsing' the gaiwan – it's done for two reasons: 1) To heat up the empty vessel for brewing your tea, and 2) to rinse away any residue or dust that may be on the gaiwan.

Step 2. Add Loose Tea Leaves

After rinsing the gaiwan, it's time to add your loose tea leaves. If you're using a 100 grams quantity of tea, then we recommend adding 1-3 grams of tea leaves depending on their size. The following quantities are enough for brewing 50-100 grams of tea, respectively:

Rinse your gaiwan before adding loose tea leaves Rinse your gaiwan again after adding the tea leaves 

Step 3. Steep Your Tea in 175 ml - 185 ml (6-7 fl oz) of Hot Water

The most important part of brewing loose tea in a gaiwan is the temperature of the water. The lower the temperature, the longer your tea leaves will steep before becoming bitter or astringent. We recommend using 175 ml - 185 ml (6-7 fl oz) of hot water which is just off boiling at around 95° C (203° F). You can use a kettle or pot to heat your water.

Step 4. Watch the Leaves Unfold

As your tea leaves steep, they'll begin to unfold and expand. As the tea leaves unfurl, you'll have a better idea of their size. If you are new to brewing tea with loose leaves, this is one of the most interesting parts of the process!

Step 5. Finish Steeping When Ready

Once your gaiwan or teapot is filled with your desired quantity of brewed tea, you're ready to remove the leaves from steeping. When you've finished brewing, be sure to check out our blog article on proper gaiwan and teapot lid placement for correct and safe handling!

Use a double-walled cup to brew loose tea

If you don't have a gaiwan, don't worry. You'll still be able to brew your tea without a strainer using a double-walled glass or cup.

Instructions:

Step 1. Warm-up your vessel by pouring just enough hot water to wet the inside.

Step 2. Add loose tea leaves and fill the vessel with hot water (175 ml - 185 ml / 6-7 fl oz recommended).

Step 3. Steep according to the brewing instructions of your tea, but be aware that the water temperature will drop slightly once you add the tea leaves.

Step 4. Once ready, remove your leaves from steeping and enjoy!

Brew Loose Tea Without a Strainer in a Mug

The final way to brew loose tea without a strainer is with your favorite mug or cup. Unlike using tea leaves in a gaiwan or teapot, this method has one extra step.

Instructions:

Step 1. Warm-up your vessel by pouring just enough hot water to wet the inside.

Step 2. Add loose tea leaves and fill the vessel with hot water (175 ml - 185 ml / 6-7 fl oz recommended).

Step 3. Steep according to the brewing instructions of your tea, and be aware that the water temperature will drop slightly once you add the tea leaves.

Step 4. Once ready, remove your leaves from steeping and place them inside your tea infuser.

Step 5. Place the infuser inside your vessel and enjoy!

Once you have finished adding or removing tea leaves from your infuser, be sure to check out our blog article on proper gaiwan and teapot lid placement for correct and safe handling!

Final

We hope you've enjoyed our guide on how to brew loose tea without a strainer. You can find more of our tea brewing guides here.