Return to Tea List items.

• Tea infusion or brewing sock

A tea sock assists in brewing tea at ideal strength,
flavor, and aroma, because it allows full expansion for
a perfect infusion of loose tea leaves. A metal tea ball
cramps tea leaves during infusion, and imparts a
metallic taste to the tea. A tea sock allows easy
removal of infused leaves, avoiding messy cleanup,
leaves floating in teacups, and strong, bitter-tasting
tea.

Vintage Tea Leaf Tea Infusion or
Brewing Sock

Use of Your Tea Sock

• Tea Sock

  1. Place a large cotton tea infusion sock into your warmed teapot.
  2. Place loose tea leaves into the tea sock.
  3. Pour boiling water over the tea leaves.
  4. Cover the tea sock with teapot lid to maintain maximum heat during the infusion process.
  5. After the proper infusion time, remove the tea sock, with the infused leaves, from the pot.

• Care and Washing of Your Tea Sock

Remember:

1. DON’T PANIC AND TRY TO CLEAN OR BLEACH your tea sock when it turns a lovely brown shade from tea stains. This is a natural seasoning process.

2. NEVER WASH YOUR TEA SOCK WITH
SOAP OR ANY CHEMICAL!

Here are tips for keeping your tea sock fresh and usable for years to come:

• DO empty the infused tea leaves into the trash or garden area as soon as the sock has cooled. Trying to empty your sock just after making tea can burn your fingers.

• After emptying the tea leaves, completely rinse your tea sock in warm tap water. Hanging your tea sock to air dry is an xcellent sterilizing process.

• You can re-use your tea sock while it is still wet. To do this, rinse your tea sock with hot tap just before using. Remember that tea leaves react immediately to dampness, so place fresh tea leaves into the wet tea sock JUST BEFORE you add boiling water to begin the infusion process.

• If, by mistake, you leave your tea sock with infused leaves for hours or overnight, DON’T DESPAIR. Empty the soggy leaves, and completely rinse your tea sock in HOT tap water. Place the wet tea sock into a small bowl with 2 teaspoons of baking soda, add boiling water, and let it sit overnight. In the morning, thoroughly rinse your tea sock and hang it to air dry completely before using. If there is any doubt in your mind about the sanitation of your tea sock, throw it out and purchase another.

© 1999 Vintage Teaf Leaf

Return to Tea List items.