tea leaves but no strainer

[what..the?]

hello I have had donated for my shoe boxes I send out to the troops on the front line small tins of very nice tea leaves but how can the troops drink this with their very basic equipment?

I might have to go back to the tea and coffee shop and say sorry I cannot take this type of donation.

I don't drink tea leaves can anyone help?

[anneasquith]

tea leaves sink to the bottom of the cup, shouldnt be a problem

[DTCwordfan]

its all in the brewing......a good brew leaves the leaves at the bottom of the pot (and tastes a hell of a lot better than those gauze things we get in boxes)

[alexanderd]

Wont be a problem pour the tea let it stand and the leaves sink to the bottom, just dont drink the full mug!!

[MickyMacgraw]

What..the? What a great gesture, the troops have access to the kitchens and I'm pretty sure they have strainers there for tea which they must brew on a mass scale.

[jackthehat]

The squaddies will be grateful for your gesture and happy to drink the tea......however it is presented to them; the lack of strainers won't bother them.

[DTCwordfan]

socks are a good filter and add a certain je ne sais quoi

[MickyMacgraw]

We'll just have to take your word for that dt :)

[anneasquith]

dt. do the socks have to be clean ?

[what..the?]

oh thank you everyone that is very useful info dont need to worry now great

yes I do buy socks out on the money I donate but it doesn't buy many, socks are quite expensive

[DTCwordfan]

well, therein lieth the secret of a good brew, especially in North Yorkshire, Norfolk or Cornwall.....

[ethandron]

coincidentally, someone bought us some nice loose tea in small cannisters recently. we don't own a teapot and didn't fancy just putting a spoonful in a mug with hot water so have been looking for an alternative. in m & s yesterday found the very thing, a small hinged metal mesh thingy which takes a teaspoon of tea leaves and snaps shut allowing you to put it in the cup with boiling water, but with no tea leaves escaping.
it's just the job and cost £2.50.
something like this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk...s&hash=item4aa50c5ce0

[DTCwordfan]

can always put a small basic sieve over your cup to catch any stray leaves. Some fancy cafes use those ball sieves, ethandron. Must be a good return on investment though as they will charge more for your cuppa.

[DTCwordfan]

but back to the core theme, a well heated pot, then the tea added and allowed to brew, the leaves do not come out......