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If the water is hot enough to steep a tea bag, it's too hot to drink. You should only steep for about 4 minutes (3-5). Remove the tea bag or loose leaves after that time. Allow the tea to cool down before drinking.

Drink from the opposite side as the string. If you using real loose leaf tea and have a tea-ball, it is best to remove the ball. Ideally you should remove the tea bag as well, to stop the tea from becoming bitter and having a terrible taste.

before I take the bag out (I leave it in for maybe 5 mins) I use a spoon to hold down the bag in the bottom of the cup.

just drink it