Learning Column

Why Loose Leaf Tea?

While tea has been around for centuries, it hasn’t been until more recent times that the question of whether one should choose a bagged leaf tea over loose leaf tea and vice versa has come into being. For most consumers these days, tea comes in convenient little packages, ready to be submerged in a steaming cup of hot water. While that is nice and good, there has to be something better, and that something better comes to us in the form of loose leaf tea.

However, it seems that loose leaf is not the preeminent choice in the minds of most modern consumers, even those who are professed tea-lovers. In asking my fellow tea aficionados why they preferred using tea bags over loose leaf, the answer always centered around convenience. “Loose tea is nice, but doesn’t it take longer to prepare?” It is a common notion, but is actually false.
Any one wanting to enjoy a cup of tea should definitely consider going the loose leaf route…it is, after all, the way people have prepared and enjoyed tea since the beginning and throughout the ages. Loose leaf tea offers a fuller flavor and the selection of loose leaf teas is much more extensive than that of bagged teas.

For the environmentally conscious, it should be noted that loose leaf tea is more sustainable than bagged tea; there are essentially no paper products or other materials wasted in preparing a loose leaf tea. For those interested in the economic aspect of tea, the cost per serving of loose leaf tea is better than bagged tea. With loose leaf tea comes a higher value product with low cost. Loose leaf tea can be re-steeped more times than a single tea bag, and can hold flavor longer. In addressing the argument that preparing loose leaf tea is less convenient and more time-consuming, what most people don’t realize is that the set up time is actually the same as bagged tea. With just about the same amount of time, you can enjoy an even better cup of tea.

Loose leaf tea also offers a more upscale appearance and artisan image. The sensory experience, presentation, aroma, taste, and tea display are just more impressive than a tea bag in a cup. After experiencing loose leaf tea, it’s hard to go back to generic teabag teas. Loose leaf teas have so much more to offer in so many aspects. So next time you have a guest come over and you want to offer a cup of tea, don’t pull out a typical tea bag. Instead, offer a cup of fresh Jasmine Silver Needle, or a smooth, rich Assam Gold. Introduce and enjoy a beautiful tea experience.