Loose Tea vs Tea Bags

If your idea of a good cup of tea starts with plain tea bags from the grocery store, you are likely missing out on a great tea experience.

If you are buying from a quality tea merchant such as Teaporia you can get quality tea in a teabag. For this comparison we are discussing common teas found on grocery store shelves.

There are some excellent bagged teas out there, made up of whole tea leaves. Quality tea merchants often carry bags as well as loose. For this discussion we are talking about generic teas found on grocery store shelves.

The main difference between loose teas and bagged teas is the size of the leaves. That's what effects the cup of tea you drink. Tea leaves contain chemicals and essential oils, which are the basis for the flavor of tea. When the tea leaves are broken up into smaller pieces, these oils can evaporate, leaving a dull and tasteless tea. Typical tea bags are filled with the smallest pieces of broken leaves, called fannings. Loose teas are typically whole leaves or at least large pieces of leaves.

On top of the leaf size, there is also the space factor. Tea leaves need space to swell, expand and unfurl. Good water circulation around the leaves is important, which doesn't typically happen in a cramped little tea bag.

Typical tea bags often sit in warehouses and store shelves for an unspecified about of time. You may get a stale tea because of this. If you have never tried loose tea, you may not even know there is a difference.

Even if you prefer a simple cup of black tea, try your tea loose instead of in bags. If you enjoy a change now and again, you can get a wide variety of teas in bags from a quality merchant such as Teaporia, but there are many more to choose from if you shop for loose tea.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
Teaporia by Tea Time with Liv