If you’re new to the world of tea, and wondering why loose leaf tea? You’ll be amazed by the the benefits that arise when you make a fresh, aromatic cup of tea. You may think all that is needed is to boil water, toss in a tea bag, steep for a few minutes, then, voila! Tea is served!
But the truth is that brewing a robust, flavourful tea that awakens your senses and invigorates your taste buds takes more than a prepackaged satchel of small, one-note-flavour remnants. It takes a stimulating blend of fresh loose-leaf tea prepared with intention.
After all, there is more to teatime than simply dropping a tea bag into hot water as you rush through your morning. Preparing tea is a practice that helps you develop mindfulness and has the ability to set the tone for your day. While tea in bags and loose-leaf tea can be delicious, there are several good reasons to choose loose leaf tea over bagged tea (or at least add loose leaf to the rotation!)
Why Loose Leaf Tea?
Many people worldwide, from the UK to America and India to China, purchase their tea in tea bags. And there’s nothing wrong with that! After all, it’s a very convenient and easy way to make your favourite beverage, especially when you’re busy. But if you’ve never tried loose leaf tea, you’re in for a treat. Let’s explore the top five reasons to buy loose leaf tea over tea bags.
1. HIGH QUALITY TEA LEAVES
Loose leaf tea is generally a higher quality tea because it is made with whole or partial tea leaves. In contrast, the tea in tea bags is often made from the broken bits of leaves left over from the production of loose-leaf tea. This is not the case with ORGANIC INDIA tea bags, but generally speaking, this is a standard practice. These smaller pieces are called the “dust and fannings” and can include stems and seeds that make the tea taste bitter.
With loose leaf tea, you get more of the whole leaf, which is more potent and provides better flavour. When tea leaves are broken into smaller pieces and mass-produced, such as in tea bags, the essential oils evaporate more quickly, leaving the tea dull and stale.
This isn’t to say that all loose leaf tea is superior to bagged tea. Many companies use high-quality tea leaves in their tea bags. But if you’re curious about your favourite tea, try this experiment.
Open a tea bag and pour the dry tea leaves into a pile. You may notice lots of tiny, broken pieces of leaves and dust. Then place a scoop of loose tea leaves next to it. How do the two compare? You’ll likely find whole leaves, buds, and partial leaves in your pile of loose leaf tea without much dust and remnants. The difference is undeniable!
Brewing loose leaf tea can be a bit of an adventure. It’s a great way to explore the many different flavours of tea and find new sweet or savoury combinations that have the potential to invigorate your morning or help calm and relax you in the evening. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of brewing the perfect cup of tea and slowly sipping while allowing your thoughts to roam free.
2. BETTER AROMA AND FLAVOUR
Bagged tea is typically a standard blend with a one-dimensional taste. Since it’s made for mass production, you generally get a quick brew with a one-note flavour and one-cup use. When tea leaves are tightly packed into a small bag, they can’t fully unfurl and release their flavour. The bag limits the infusion, resulting in a weaker finished brew and a less flavourful cup.
Loose leaf tea, on the other hand, is minimally processed, so it retains more of its natural flavour and aroma. As a result, you’ll get a richer, more nuanced cup of tea with these infusions.
To steep, place your tea leaves in a strainer or infuser that can be situated inside your cup or teapot. Inside the strainer, the tea leaves have room to unfurl and expand as the hot water flows through the loose leaves. As the leaves open, they release a wide range of fragrant flavours. This is when vitamins and minerals are also infused into the hot water. Brewing loose leaf tea results in a more robust, full-flavoured cup of tea.
Bagged tea may be convenient, but when tea leaves are allowed to float freely, they can reach their full potential of flavour expression and set your taste buds alight. Imagine the soothing satisfaction of wrapping your hands around a warm mug while slowly inhaling the steamy aroma.
3. LOOSE LEAF VARIETIES ALLOW YOU TO CUSTOMISE YOUR TEA
With literally thousands of varieties, loose leaf tea offers many options for customising your flavour. Unlike tea bags, where you’re stuck with whatever blend is in the bag, loose leaf teas give you more control over the flavour, strength, and sweetness in your cup.
Why loose leaf tea? For the tea connoisseur, it’s the ability to let their creative and culinary side run wild. Using different variations, you can tailor your cup of tea to suit your personal preferences. Do you prefer a citrusy blend or a heartier brew with a robust flavour? Or maybe an earthy, rich taste with a slightly sweet finish is the perfect way to end your day.
4. BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
About five billion tea bags are disposed of worldwide each year. While bagged tea may be a more convenient, hassle-free way to make your morning brew, tea bags are not always biodegradable and can contain plastic that is harmful to the environment. Some tea bags may contain microplastics which are released into the boiling water and then ingested. This can be harmful not only to the environment but to your health as well. Luckily, some companies are moving to use fully biodegradable tea bags. If you regularly use tea bags, be sure to look for ways to help the environment by reusing your used tea bags.
On the other hand, loose leaf teas are entirely natural and compostable, making them a much more environmentally-friendly alternative. Loose tea leaves typically use fewer resources during production, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint. This tea usually comes in a tin or box that is completely recyclable. If you’re interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle, why not swap out your tea bags for loose leaf tea?
5. MORE HEALTH BENEFITS
For centuries, tea has been used to encourage wellness of the body and mind. Tea contains natural compounds that help reinforce a healthy immune system and support a healthy inflammatory response. Since loose leaf tea is less processed than bagged tea, it retains more of the polyphenols, antioxidants, and other beneficial nutrients.
Many beneficial compounds are lost when tea leaves are processed and packed into bags. Tea bags may also contain synthetic ingredients, preservatives, and other additives that can be harmful to your health.
Why Drink Loose Leaf Tea?
Loose leaf tea may be a bit more work to prepare, but it’s definitely worth it! Loose leaf tea is often better quality and tastes better than tea in bags. Bagged tea is generally made from remnants of the whole tea leaves that have been processed down to bits and pieces stripped of their natural oil. Mass-produced tea bags may also spend more time on the shelf, where they can lose potency and become dull and less fragrant.
Although high-quality loose leaf teas may cost more initially than their bagged counterparts, they will last much longer since you only need to use a small amount per cup. This means that drinking loose leaf tea will save you money over time. Because this tea contains more plant material, you use less of it per cup than you would with a tea bag. In the long run, this tea is more cost-effective.
If you’ve never tried loose leaf tea, why not explore the possibilities ORGANIC INDIA has to offer? We have a wide variety to choose from. You just might be surprised at how much you enjoy it! Next time you fancy a cup of tea, reach for your loose leaf tea canister. Take a moment to breathe in the fragrant bouquet as you measure out a spoonful of tea leaves, and experiment with the explosion of flavours that make up your favourite blend. It’s pure bliss!
