I bought some tea, now what?

[Commander Quan]

Last night I went down to the local coffee and tea house and picked up some small tins of teas that sounded good. I don't have a teapot so I've been using one of those teaball things to infuse the tea in a mug. Yesterday I made a couple cups of the Nilgiri and today was the Ceylon. I watched a couple videos on youtube about the pu erh, but I'm not sure what I should be doing with the little balls, can I just rinse one and use it in a french press? or should I break it up or cut it in half?

[_JP_]

Don't break it up. The idea with those mini tochas is they are single servings. Usually they are brewed in a small pot. An infused will also do. You should be able to get several infusions from one.

[jwhite]

Those tea ball things suck eggs. a french press works fine but you'll have coffee carry over that effect the flavor. Most of the teas you have are good for western brewing the puer will benefit from multiple steepings but I wouldn't expect magic from those particular tou cha. For the teas you have I'd recommend a cup infuser like the type sold by Upton they will filter fine particles while allowing the leaves to move naturally and as the basket is removed after your steep time you may brew directly in your favorite cup and do multiple steepings with the puer easily. If you find you enjoy it and want to get into better oolongs, greens, and sheng a gaiwan can be had pretty inexpensively,(in the neighborhood of $10) and brew great tea.