French Press for making tea

[Klondike]

Hey there. Looking for what options might be available for making tea in something other than a tea pot and thought of my French Press that I use for coffee. It seems to work very well and I'm wondering how many use such a thing for tea. Is it a popular method or is it way out there on the fringe?

[klemptor]

In general, I've heard that presses are less than ideal for tea because they compress the leaves, causing the brew to be bitter. You may want to experiment on your own, though - I don't speak from experience as I don't own a press.

[LavenderPekoe]

I use a press at home, but I am very careful not to squinch the leaves. It is actually alright for me since I make my tea pretty weak.

[Deleted User #115]

I'll third the cautions on the french press. It can make good quality tea taste very bitter and if you previously used it for coffee your tea will also taste like coffee. Sorry, but not a good idea to brew them in the same container.

Adagio has many tea "gadgets" for brewing, but I like the simple PersonaliTea pot, holds 2 cups. It's lovely and only $9, including the filter.

[Klondike]

Hey there again. Thanks for the replies and the input. I'll keep it in mind to not press all the way down on the tea leaves when I use the press. Good point. I've only tried it a time or two and with a tea that I have a little experience with and it tasted normal in every respect to me. I'm sure I'll try it a few more times and also keep using my teapot. Eventually I'll come a conclusion as to what method I like best. Thanks again.

P.S. I love your term "squinch"