The Luxury of Loose Teas

by Christine Chan — April 19, 2008

One of my most embarrassing tea moments was in a grocery store during my first day in China. Jet-lagged, overwhelmed, and wanting to avoid any unnecessary human contact, I threw a box of Lipton green teabags into my basket. Only after I returned home did I realize, I bought Lipton tea in the tea world's tea oasis! While there is nothing wrong with bagged tea, there are good reasons why tea connoisseurs swear by loose tea leaves.

If you have never tried loose tea, then you are missing out on a truly delicious brew. The main advantage of loose teas is in the retention of natural oils in the whole leaf, which are essential to the flavor of tea. Tea bags mostly contain broken up leaves, called "fannings," which are dried out of its oils and results in a lackluster cup. Tea leaves also need space to expand and circulate in the hot water. Without the restriction of a tea bag, the leaves grow to an astonishingly large size.

"But I can't afford loose teas," you say. You may be surprised to learn that between two teas of the same quality, one bagged and the other loose, the loose tea is almost always a better value. Loose tea leaves can be found in all major tea vendors and even in the bulk section of your natural grocery store.

Teas, like all agricultural products, can go stale or moldy if stored improperly. But if kept in airtight, moisture-proof, and light-proof containers, they can last for a year. Store tea in a cool dry area away from pungent foods like herbs and coffee.

If you don't care for tea leaves swirling around your cup, you can use a teapot, strainer or a tea ball. I have an adorable tea-for-one set that I use daily. Indulge!