You Can Use Your French Press To Make Tea. Here's How
If you're a coffee enthusiast, chances are you own a French press. But did you know it can also be used to brew tea? This versatile tool can steep loose-leaf tea just as well as it does ground coffee, and the result is a full-bodied cup of tea with all its natural flavors and aromas preserved.
The benefits? Not only is using a French press to make tea easy and convenient, but it also allows for a more eco-friendly approach to brewing. Unlike tea bags, which often come with individual packaging, loose-leaf tea can be bought in bulk and stored in reusable containers, reducing waste and saving money in the long run (they also last longer than tea bags).
Plus, using a French press to make tea requires minimal effort and equipment. All you need is your press, loose-leaf tea, and hot water. With some basic guidelines and some experimentation, you can become your own tea master and create perfectly steeped blends that cater to your taste.
Ready to open up a new realm of possibilities for your brewing adventures? Let's dive into the nitty-gritty of using a French press to make tea, including what types of tea work best, how to properly steep your tea, and tips for other unique ingredients to include to boost the flavor of your favorite brew.
How does a French press work?
The French press, also called a press pot or coffee plunger, is a manual coffee-brewing device that has been around in some fashion since the 1800s. It consists of a cylindrical glass or stainless-steel container with a plunger and a mesh filter. To use it, you fill the container with coffee grounds and hot water, let it steep for about 5 minutes, and then press the plunger to separate the liquid from the coffee grounds.
But what makes the French press such a versatile tea-making tool? It's all in the process. Because the French press allows for full immersion of the loose tea leaves (and any other ingredients you choose to add, like nutmeg, chopped cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, or even citrus peels), it yields a more flavorful and fragrant brew. Unlike traditional teapots or infusers, the French press doesn't restrict the flow of water through the leaves, allowing for a more even extraction and a more robust flavor.
With a French press, you can easily control the steeping time and temperature and experiment with different tea blends. Whether you prefer green, black, or herbal teas, the French press is an ideal tool to brew your tea to perfection, and it works just the same as brewing tea using other methods. Follow simple steeping times for each type of tea, which is about 3-5 minutes for black teas and 3-4 minutes for green teas, then press the plunger down and serve.
How to brew the best tea with a French press
Before diving into some tips to level up your tea game, it's worth reiterating that when using a French press, loose-leaf tea is always the way to go, as the mesh filter in the press allows for a full infusion of the tea leaves without any sediment or debris getting into your drink. Beyond that, the real magic happens when experimenting with unique tea blends. For example, try an Earl Grey lavender blend or a peach oolong tea for a more adventurous palate.
But why stop at just tea leaves? You can also add other ingredients to your French press to infuse flavor into your brew. Expand your tea horizons by incorporating spices like cardamom or cinnamon, which pair perfectly with black tea. Add a splash of vanilla extract or some grated ginger for a cozy and comforting cuppa.
These unique ingredients add flavor, and many also come with added health benefits. For example, pineapple peel scraps provide a delicate, immune-boosting sweetness, while rosemary adds a herbaceous kick and can help improve memory and concentration. Anything that can be strained through the mesh filter can be used to infuse flavor into your tea.
Next time you reach for your French press, why not mix things up and try brewing tea instead? With unique ingredients at your fingertips, your tea game will never be the same.