Live Green by Jen Chillingsworth

Author:Jen Chillingsworth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Quadrille Publishing
Published: 2019-04-10T04:00:00+00:00

Tea

We love the convenience of using teabags as it makes the process of tea-making effortless. However, many teabags are made with small amounts of plastic so as they biodegrade, they leave tiny microplastics behind. Thankfully, many of the bigger tea producers have realized that customers don’t want plastics in their cuppa and are looking at sourcing alternative manufacturing materials. Until they are fully plastic free and completely biodegradable, it’s worth making the simple change to loose-leaf tea.

BUY LOOSE-LEAF TEA

Choose loose-leaf teas in cardboard boxes or tins. Look for local tea merchants or health food stores where you can buy in bulk. It saves money, too, as you can get several cups out of a single teapot or infuser opposite.

TEAPOTS

Look for teapots with a built-in infuser. You fill the holder with loose tea, pour hot water in and the tea is made.

MUG INFUSERS

Ideal for using loose-leaf tea in the office, this comes with a removable infuser and a lid. The tea leaves go in the infuser, you pour in the water and brew. When it’s ready, remove the infuser and sit it on the lid to contain any drips.

INFUSERS

Also handy for individual cups or mugs of tea, these are made of a fine mesh and shaped like a globe. Give it a quick rinse with cold water before you fill it with loose-leaf tea as this helps prevent tea leaves escaping through any tiny gaps where it seals. Half-fill the infuser with tea, immerse in a cup of hot water and brew to your desired strength.

FILL YOUR OWN TEABAGS

If you like the convenience of a teabag or you want to brew teas with herbs from your garden, try making your own teabags. Source reusable bags produced from unbleached, food-grade cotton muslin. Simply pop your tea leaves into the little pouch, pull the drawstring to close the pouch and brew as normal. Once you are done, scrape the leaves out into the compost bin, turn the bag inside out and rinse under cold water.

Alternatively, choose single-use bags made from unbleached paper or plant fibres and pop in the food waste bin or compost them when you are done.

HERBAL TEA

Making tea with fresh mint from the garden is one of life’s simple pleasures. You can use any variety of mint and there are lots to choose from – garden, apple, chocolate, strawberry, lemon, orange, peppermint, Moroccan and my own personal favourite, ginger mint. If you don’t have any growing in the garden, choose a packet or a pot of fresh mint from the grocery store or market. Mint tea is lovely served hot but equally nice left to cool then poured over ice with a slice of lemon and orange.

For one cup of tea, all you need is six to eight fresh and washed ginger mint leaves plus some honey or sugar to sweeten. Pop your leaves into a clean mug. Boil the kettle, filling it with only what water you need and pour the boiling water over the ginger mint leaves. Infuse for five minutes then remove the leaves, adding a little honey or sugar to taste.

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