Two questions for hot tea drinkers...?

Question

What do you use to steep a tea bag that doesn't have a string? Do you use one of those metal balls?

Can you recommend a good tea for helping you fall asleep at night? I'm extremely sensitive to caffeine so it has to be something caffeine free and preferable something that tastes good without adding any kind of sweetener.

Nik T: just thought you would like to know you've been reported. I don't mind sarcasm or a joke, but being rude and disgusting won't earn you any points with me.

Answer 1

Fish the teabag out of the cup with a spoon, or use a tea bag squeezer: http://shopstashtea.com/400109.html

A lot of people like chamomile tea, which is naturally sweet, for bedtime. If you get hay fever, you should avoid it, though, since it's related to ragweed. I like Republic of Tea's cardamom cinnamon tea: http://www.republicoftea.com/templates/detail.asp?navID=279 It's sweet enough without sugar, too.

Grocery stores sell a wide range of herbal tisanes (caffeine-free infusions); you might try some different kinds and see what you like.

Answer 2

I just use a teaspoon to get the bag out because leave it in there annoys me. If your talking about the metal balls I think you are I only use them for loose leaf/herb.

Passionflower is very good for relaxation/getting to sleep. Some people don't the taste on it's own so you can add herbs like mint and lemon grass, I also add honey, lemon juice and other herbs from my garden. Use one of those metal balls or a coffee steeping jug.
If you prefer something closer to the taste of black tea try roobois (I think spelling is right) which tastes very similar to black tea but isn't tea and is caffeine free, it's just a herb.
Also fruit teas are caffeine free an taste great. Good luck!

Answer 3

In UK, we steep the tea bag in the cup and fish it out using a tea spoon before squeezing it to within an inch of its life. Unless you're very posh. People are always recommending camomile tea as soothing and an aid to sleep. Doesn't taste of much and may work for you. Good luck!

Answer 4

I just steep the teabag in the cup of boiling water then squeeze between two teaspoons. A good sleepy tea is calamine, it is an acquired taste but OK. If you don't like it there are lots of fruity teas out there that are refreshing and soothing and don't need sugar added.Sweet dreams.

Answer 5

I use loose tea in a tea pot and then pour through a plastic mesh strainer into each cup.
You can also use loose tea in a coffee filter in a coffee maker.
The little metal steepers are messy and can give off the flavor of metal.
Celestial Seasons makes alot of great caffine free tea flavors. Sleepy Time is really good.

Answer 6

I just stick the tea bag in the water. Who needs a string and what for?
Tea with valerian will help you sleep. Green tea is also good for a restful state, decaf of course. There are many commercial tea blends with a "sleepy time" theme to them that are nice, too.

Answer 7

ingesting the leeaves won't do something extra for you, The goodness is on the water it is steeped I lived in china for somewhat, and spent countless time interior the Pu-er area ( it is the tea from Yunnan) and every physique drinks oolong in any case. What extra chinese language human beings do, like ninety 9% of them, is take this glass bottle= like a sparkling thermos, to paintings with them, and sip from it in the process the day. they have made an paintings out of those thermos tea flasks- they have flora interior the lid, double partitions with moving fish interior them etc, yet they are to hold the tea around, and maximum chinese language do no longer might desire to drink the tea warm, infact i grow to be surpsrised how lots cool and heat tea I drank in China. So take a thermos with you- maximum mpeople carry a bottle of water besides. weight help? do no longer knwo, I drink Genmaicha- jap roasted brown rice green tea.

Answer 8

Camomile (sp?) is a classic but a lot of supermarkets do their own brand of nighttime teas which you will find well suited to your needs.