Introduction: How to Keep Your Teabag's Tag From Falling Into Your Tea.
This is an obscenely simple instructable.
It is a little trick I found out that helps keep your teabag from falling into your tea while pouring hot water from the kettle.
Of course you can hold onto your teabag, but certain cups, or kettles don't afford you the free hand. and adding the bag later, means the teabag floats on top, waiting to be saturated.
Step 1: Identify and Acquire Teabags.
There are many kinds of labels for different brands of teabags. Some brands (as shown: Red-rose may only have a single piece of paper, attached to the bag)
If this is the case, remove your teabag from the paper satchel but leave the whole satchel attached to the string. Add your water, and seperate it after the tea has begun to brew.
If you have the new pyramidal bags or other bags that involve 'no strings attached' style, you have to fish out your bag with a spoon, or simply leave it in there until you have finished drinking (provided your tea will not get bitter)
Step 2: The Type of Bag You Need.
The common bag-type has a folded piece of paper stapled to the string.
It looks like a two page book. And for asian-style, or old-fashioned shallow teacups, this is plenty.
However for American-style mugs, the force of the water pulls this paper tab into your cup.
Step 3: The Trick!
When preparing your cup and hot water, place your teabag in the cup (1) take the booklet-tab and place each leg of "the booklet" on seperate sides of the cup. (2) Admire your ingenuity (3).
Step 4: Pour the Water!
Then pour (1) the(2) water! (3)
You can see it even worked in the large pint size tumbers I usually drink from as well as common mugs and paper cups from the office.
There is some magic physics here, that I know nothing of. But I can pour my tea with one hand free (to spoon in honey, milk, hold a cast iron kettle, or simply snap photos for instructables!
When the tea is ready I can remove my teabag at any time, without a fuss for a perfect cup of tea.
Thanks for enjoying! Drink up, yo!
25 Comments
7 years ago
I have a question about tea bag tags. Can anyone who uses tea bags quite often, please let me know, why do these brands various color codes printed on tea bag tags? Is it really necessary?
12 years ago on Step 4
I wrap the strings on handle of teapot or ear of the handle of tea mug if using bags, but for glass type service use a rubber band over the string and if you must make the string wrap around the rubber band 3-4 times.
if you are on hike and not a gram weenie , put cold water and bag(s) in nalgene bottle, and heat with aky stove in a pot rinse with clear water. by end of a 3 hour hike the tea is steeped (cold) and is less bitter
13 years ago on Step 4
you could just put the teabag in after you pour the drink and use the spoon against the side of the cup to get the flavour. good idea though.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
spoons are dishes! who wants those?
15 years ago on Step 4
If the string the little booklet is stapled to is long enough, just set the cup or mug on it.
Reply 15 years ago on Step 4
True, but the teabag's string is rarely long enough for a large glass as shown, or a nalgene... its is a trick for the non-traditional tea-drinker. :-)
15 years ago on Introduction
The rim of some mugs is too thick for this too work reliably, but if your mug has a handle, you can loop the string around the handle once, and hook the tab on the string.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
yup. Sadly, I'm fond of the pint glasses of tea... nary a handle to be found.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Indeed. That works for me.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
That's my method as well.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Mine too. ;-) Yummy, tea!
15 years ago on Introduction
... or you could just drink coffee ... ;-)
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Except that some of us prefer drinks that taste good... Unfortunately, I drink decaf herbal tea, not for caffeine, but because it's a tasty way to warm up. Celestial Seasonings bags have no strings. :-(
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
If your coffee tastes bad, change brand! As PKM said - bring a spoon.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
:D
15 years ago on Introduction
I recently discovered that putting in the teabag after the water makes a better-tasting cup of tea, especially if the water is very hot. I was advised to do this by a guy in a Rington's tea shop because green tea is especially prone to "burning" and tasting overly bitter if you pour the water onto the bag, but IMHO it improves regular black tea as well. (I'm from England, we take this stuff way too seriously) I suggest to haptotrope that you try this, or just bring your own spoon to work :)
15 years ago on Introduction
i just leave my teabag in the tea -gamer
15 years ago on Introduction
Or you could just use a spoon to remove the teabag...here in the U.K. it is the exception as opposed to the rule for teabags to have strings attached. If they do have strings attached, laying the string up one side of the cup and pouring the hot water so that it strikes the opposite side of the cup will stop the string from falling in.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Yup. IF you have a spoon. Work as no spoons. So its craftiness or scalded fingers, or bitter tea for me.
15 years ago on Introduction
At work I drink out of a quart jar- this will definitely be handy! Using an extra hand to hold the string while jamming the jar under the hot water spigot is annoying.