How do you make tea on shabbos?

Executive Member Joined: Jan 30 2008 Posts: 250

I recently learned that the reason tea making is so complicated on shabbos is not only because of bishul, but b/c of borer, separating.
using the tea bag as a strainer between the tea inside the bag and in the cup outside of the bag. this is considered using a utensil in borer, and is not allowed.
I didnt know this, so I am sharing it with you in case you didnt either.

so now how do you make tea? the best is to make essence before shabbos.
but if you want to use a bag, you can only drink the tea for as long as the tea bag is always covered by water, so you have to leave some of the tea at the bottom undrunk.
another option is to use a spooon to scoop out the tea bag with the tea inside it. if you do scoop it out, what do you do with the bag? as soon as you put it down whether in the garbage or anywhere else the tea will strain out of the bag.
another question I still have is, are you not allowed to stir your tea, or move the bag at all?
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Gold Member Joined: Oct 09 2011 Posts: 1068

I have a tiny pot (the size of a tea cup) I prepare tea with a tea bag just like making a cup of tea. I leave the tea bag inside so tea becomes strong. on shabbos I put some tea into my cup of hot water and it's just like a regular cup of tea.

Make a tea essence by steeping a couple of tea bags in a very small amount of hot water. Set aside for Shabbos use.
Use a bit of the "sence" on Shabbos, mix with hot water, and add sweetener. Tastes just like regular tea.
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Silver Member Joined: Nov 18 2007 Posts: 944

That's exactly why I don't have tea that's not from essence not only on Shabbos, but also on YT. B/c if the other melochos are also a problem on YT, it really doesn't matter if you can cook the tea. There is a way to get around it, but I rather err on the side of caution, especially if I could be at a table where someone doesn't know any better and sees me doing something that can easily be mistaken, and ch"v cause an aveira. (I'd rather not have to explain every time I'm around company.) So, I only have tea essence or, rarely, tea powder on shabbos and YT.

Last edited by grin on Wed, Jan 18 2012, 3:39 am; edited 1 time in total

I leave my tea bag in my cup! (I think it's tastier that way, as well as saving me form this complicated inyan)
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Silver Member Joined: Aug 03 2010 Posts: 515

Silver Member Joined: Nov 18 2007 Posts: 944

Moderator Joined: Aug 14 2005 Posts: 4555 Location: Ohio

I make my tea essence (very strong) before Shabbos, take the tea bags out before shabbos and throw them in the trash, thus no issue with borer..

I learned that the hot water needs to be in a kli shishi before you add the tea essence, but I don't know if others hold that way.
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Diamond Member Joined: Jun 24 2008 Posts: 3323

I make tea on Shabbat. I have a hot water urn...I pour a cup of hot water...I pour that cup into a second cup (the water has cooled off a bit by now), and I add the tea bag into the water.

I also do exactly as Lady Godiva described using keli sheni. And popping teabag after the water not the other way around. Firtly tea is first roasted so no bishul issue. As for dying, it is not applicable to food and drinks, ein sobea be-mashkim.

Gold Member Joined: Aug 23 2011 Posts: 1581

We use one of three ways

1. Tea essence
2. Kli Shelishi (Lady Godiva and Mrs. Bissle's way)
3. Instant tea