· By Nicole Maddock
Loose Leaf vs. Tea Bags
What’s so great about loose leaf tea, anyway? The short answer is loose-leaf tea is almost always much higher quality (and we think more delicious) than traditional single-serve tea bags. Here are the key differences between the two:
Tea bags
- Tiny particles known as “dust and fannings”
- Single cup serving and cannot re-steep
- Shorter brew time
- One-note flavor, often bitter or astringent
- Stales quickly
- Convenience-based
Loose Leaf Teas
- Buds, Whole Leaf, and Partially Cut Tea Leaves
- Modify batch size & re-steep
- Longer brew time
- Fuller flavor without bitterness
- Stays fresh longer
- Takes a bit more effort
The major difference between loose leaf tea and tea bags is that loose leaf tea is comprised of mostly buds, whole leaf, and partially cut tea leaves, where as tea bags are comprised of dust and fannings - tiny particles that are leftover at the end of tea production.
The dust and fannings have a very large surface area exposed. A larger surface area means two things:
1. A much faster brew time and,
2. More opportunities for the essential oils (what makes tea aromatic and flavorful) to evaporate, leaving the tea dull and stale, as well as making the tea more susceptible to extraction issues (causing bitterness and astringency)
Obviously, you can’t beat the convenience of tea bags. Simply throw one in a mug with hot water, steep for a few minutes, and toss it in the trash. So simple! However, you truly cannot beat the taste of loose leaf teas. See for yourself!
Of course, you can always get the best of both worlds by purchasing a pack of our disposable sachets.