Ban the Tea Ball (Sometimes)
I'm starting to notice more and more places selling mesh or stainless steal devices that hold enough tea leaves to make a cup of your favourite brew. This to some extent is true, but I would like to tell you where the tea ball originated from.
Back in the 19th century drinking tea became a big past time for the English, it still is today. As trends always occur, people always look for a more 'fashionable' way of showing they have style and the tea ball was one of those ways. Black tea was the tea to drink in the mid 19th Century, and by the time Queen Elizabeth was crowned EVERYONE drank tea, and every respectable house would have a ball infuser. My thing with these balls is that they were invented to help steep black tea. During the time period when the balls became fashionable Western people were mainly drinking fine cut 'orange pekoe' (a form of black leaf) the tea that is generally used in store bought pre-made tea bags. This leaf is very small and steeps very easily, split open a bag of PG Tips if you want to see for yourself. As the tea bag was not readily available at this time the tea ball enabled drinkers to take their favourite black tea with them on the move without having to worry about taking anything else other than a cup and saucer.
To attempt to brew any other tea in this device would be a shame. A lot of larger leaved teas, such as a Royal Red Robe Oolong with large individually plucked leaves, would just not steep to there full potential as you are restricting the movement of the leaf. A Ball infuser may seem like a good idea for being on the go, or at the office, but the mesh disposable bags are better for that quick cup of your favourite White Fujian giving it room to breathe and time for you to enjoy the aroma. There is a time and a place to use a tea ball, and that time would be for a quick cup of Twinnings English Breakfast tea, brewed just the way Queen Elizabeth would've wanted.
