Teas   ~ ~ price per ounce

Bamboo Tea Strainer  A miniature bamboo woven basket; especially nice to use with freshly trimmed sprigs of mint from your garden. $2.95 each

Tea Ball, Wire Mesh Stainless steel, 2 inches in diameter. Has a chain with a hook to latch onto the side of a tea cup. $3.95 each

Tea Spoon, Wire Mesh Convenient way to brew a single cup of tea. Stainless steel, 4.5 cm diameter. $3.95 each

Sold as #1 (100/box) or #2 size (30/box) $6.00 either size (note: #1 is currently out of stock)

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when brewing your favorite tea: allow 1 oz of tea to 1 pint of water, or 1 teaspoon of tea to 1 cup (8 oz) of water. Proportions of tea to water can vary depending upon the intended flavor, use and properties of the individual plant used, as well as whether you are using fresh or dried herbs. Allow up to five minutes brewing time. Always keep your brew covered to ensure the volatile oils do not escape. 

If preparing a flower tea, such as Chamomile or Elder, steep only a few minutes to preserve the delicate flavor; tea leaves for a bit longer. Looking for that extra lilt to tempt your palate? If you want to sweeten your brew without calories--or, if you're diabetic and despair of the various artificial sweeteners--try a bit of Stevia, known also as the Sweet Herb of Paraguay.

Using leaves, flowers, seeds, or bark of herbs and spices allows a person to create unique and natural beverages. If you simply wish to have a hot beverage with great taste and anti-oxidant properties, you can easily create a tea--also known as a tissane--by briefly (3-5 minutes, usually) steeping your preferred choice in hot water.

To extract a greater range of medicinal benefits from various herbs, you will need to brew a longer and stronger beverage, known as a decoction.