Are we the only people left in the world who prefer [when we can get it, when we can't always because of the fact that we seem to be, if you see what I mean] to make tea with loose tealeaves in a warmed pot, left to stand for 4 minutes? V interesting to blend, too. Darjeeling/Assam; EarlGrey/LapsangSouchong... No harm microwaving what remains in the pot, so no wastage. We use one of those pots with built-in removable strainer which we take out when tea is brewed, to obviate 'stewing'.