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Do you drink tea?
Tea is an amazing beverage whose history spans millennia. It’s popularity varies from location to location, but there is no denying the importance of this beverage and the contribution it has made to humankind. A good cup of tea shared with loved ones is uniting, making tea can be a beautiful ritual, and in some cultures wasting good tea might just be worth starting a war over.
I was raised drinking tea. When I was around 12, during the winter days that I was home doing school with my family, I drank about 6 cups of green tea a day, which might sound like way too much caffeine for a child, but I was using the same tea bag over and over (with 3 spoonful’s of sugar in each cup). So by the third or fourth cup I was essentially drinking hot sugar water, which was probably why I liked it so much. My mom always kept lots of varieties of tea in our home, and we were always happy to sample new flavors. I even had a lovely tea party for my bridal shower. Tea has always been a part of my life, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I discovered the beauty of loose leaf tea.
Loose leaf tea is a category unto itself in the world of tea. The quality, fragrance, potency, and flavor of loose leaf is unmatched by that of its bagged counterpart. It converts tea brewing from a boring necessity to an exciting method to experiment with your senses. Whether you are new to the vast world of tea, or you’ve been drinking bagged tea for years, brewing loose leaf tea is something you will want to try.
Some Tea Basics
The Tea Plant
Did you know that all teas (white, yellow, black, green, and oolong) come from the same tea plant? The variation of flavor and color occurs depending on the location in which the tea is grown, the maturity of the plant when the tea leaves are harvested, and the length of time that teas are allowed to oxidize and ferment post-harvest (Source).
Caffeinated Tea vs. Herbal Tea
In the US, we commonly refer to herbal infusions as herbal teas and group them into the same category as tea from the tea plant. However, true tea contains tea leaves and has caffeine, so any herbal “tea” beverages that do not contain tea leaves and are free of caffeine should technically be referred to as herbal infusions.
Caffeine Content of Tea
The caffeine content of tea is significantly less per cup than that of other caffeinated beverages such as coffee or energy drinks. Tea also contains an amino acid unique to the tea plant known as Theanine. This amino acid works with the caffeine content of the tea to create a more balanced stimulatory effect, without the caffeine crash associated with the consumption of other types of caffeine (Source). The amount of caffeine in your cup of tea is also dependent on the length of time which the tea is steeped; the longer it sits the higher the caffeine content.
Decaffeinated tea is different than herbal infusions in that it contains tea leaves, but they have been processed to remove the caffeine content. Trace amounts of caffeine still remain in decaffeinated tea.
Sourcing Loose Leaf Tea
Loose Leaf tea is widely available online. Amazon sells all varieties, of course, but some of my favorites online sources are Mountain Rose Herbs or Art of Tea. Occasionally you may find loose leaf tea in your local grocery store. I personally love to buy loose leaf tea in my local bulk store, as I can bring my own jar to refill and get just as much or little as I want. There may also be local tea shops in your area that sell loose leaf teas (although you may find these to be more expensive).
Wherever you purchase your tea, I highly recommend that you ensure it is organic and free of unnecessary additional ingredients such as natural or artificial flavors.
Why opt for Loose Leaf Tea?
There are several great reasons to use loose leaf rather than bagged tea:
- Bagged tea can contain contaminants: There have been several studies showing that the majority of tea bags are contaminated with PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, and that many tea bags release high levels of microplastics when steeped in hot water (Source).
- Loose leaf tea is more sustainable: Tea bags require more processing to produce and may or may not be compostable, which means they have a greater environmental impact than loose leaf tea. Additionally, loose leaf tea can often be sourced package-free from bulk stores, which eliminates the waste of tea bag packaging.
- Loose leaf tea is more economical: The price per ounce of loose leaf tea is significantly less than that of packaged tea. A box of packaged black tea on Amazon, containing approximately 1.5 oz of tea, retails for $5, versus an 8 oz pack of loose leaf black tea, which sells for $14.
- Loose leaf tea is higher quality: Bagged teas contain tea dust and broken up leaves, which have a less robust flavor. Loose Leaf uses full tea leaves which allow for a better infusing process and greater flavor.
- Loose leaf tea allows for flavor customization: Using loose leaf tea allows you to control the strength of your tea, as you control the ratio of tea to water. It also allows you to create your own tea blends with other herbs or fruits for unique flavor combinations.
Brewing Loose Leaf Tea
Tools
Brewing loose leaf tea does not require much. Like many other things, you can make this hobby as simple or complicated as you desire. On the most basic level, all that is required to brew tea is hot water and a vessel to hold your beverage. A strainer is helpful with loose leaf tea, but you don’t even necessarily need it, you could just allow the leaves to sink to the bottom and sip carefully. However, if you want it to be a little more convenient and classy, here are the items I enjoy using in my tea brewing.
Tea Kettle:
I love having an electric glass tea kettle. It boils water quickly and some kinds allow you to customize the temperature you would like the water to be, which is amazing for brewing different varieties of tea that benefit from lower temperatures. It can also be set to keep water warm for a length of time. I got mine at Costco, but this one is the same brand and very similar to what I have. It comes with a tea infuser attachment, but to avoid leaving behind any flavor residue, I never use this in the actual pot; I do sometimes use it to steep tea in other vessels.
Tea Strainer/ Tea Pot with Infuser:
When brewing loose leaf tea, a tea strainer is needed. I have several different types of strainers, but my go-to choice is a simple stainless steel type that fits over the rim of your cup. These have enough space for the tea to move freely and fully infuse flavor, and they don’t allow any bits of tea to escape into the finished product.
A tea pot with infuser is another great choice for times that you are making multiple cups of tea at once. I prefer glass with a stainless steel infuser, such as this one. These can be used directly on the stove, or you can boil water separately and pour it in.
Mugs:
A mug is an obvious necessity for tea drinking. I am pretty picky about the things I buy, but if I’m out and I see a beautiful handmade ceramic mug it’s very hard for me to resist. I have a little collection of mugs that I have slowly collected from thrift stores or been gifted, and I love the special memories that I associate with each cup. I think that drinking out of a mug you love makes the tea taste even better.
I also enjoy a nice to-go cup to keep my tea warm and contained. My husband bought me a stainless steel tumbler a couple of years ago to replace the ceramic one I had that shattered in our driveway. It’s my top choice for when I want to take my tea on the go.
Temperature & Time
The temperature of water is pivotal in brewing tea. If the water is too cool your tea will be weak and under extracted, and if it is too hot you may end up with a bitter beverage, as a result of burning the leaves. Additionally, the time tea is steeped for will have a great impact in the final beverage, as steeping for too short of a time will result in a weak flavor, and steeping for too long will create a bitter, too-strong taste.
There are a variety of tea brewing methods, but the most simple and accessible one is called Western Style Brewing. This type of brewing generally has a lower leaf to water ratio than other methods and is optimized for preparing tea in larger quantities for immediate consumption (Source). These are the recommended temperatures and steep times for Western Style Brewing (Source):
Black Tea: Use 1 tsp of tea per 8 oz. water. Brew at 212°F for 3-5 minutes.
Green Tea: Use 1 tsp of tea per 8 oz. water. Brew at 175°F for 1-2 minutes.
Oolong Tea: Use 1 tsp of tea per 8 oz. water. Brew at 195°F for 2-3 minutes.
White Tea: Use 2 tsp of tea per 8 oz. water. Brew at 175°F for 2-3 minutes.
Herbal: Use 1 Tbsp of herbs per 8 oz. water. Brew at 212°F for 5-10 minutes.
Add-Ins
While tea is delicious on its own and there are some kinds that I always prefer plain, you can enhance the flavor and drinking experience by adding sweeteners, dairy, or flavorings.
Sweeteners:
My personal recommendations for sweetening tea include organic cane sugar, honey, or maple syrup. People also commonly use agave syrup or stevia. The sweetener I use varies depending on the tea type, for instance I prefer black tea with sugar or maple syrup for chai tea, green tea with either sugar or honey, and herbal tea with honey or maple syrup. Experiment and see what tastes best to you.
Milk or Cream:
Depending what kind of tea I am having, I occasionally like to add milk or cream. We have a milk frother and thoroughly enjoy creating tea lattes by adding warm frothed milk to our teas. I don’t recommend little handheld milk frother sticks, as in my experience they break rather quickly and cannot warm the milk. Instead I prefer an electric milk frothing vessel that you pour milk or cream into and turn on, such as this one. I think a steam wand would create the best milk for tea lattes, but unfortunately they do not make standalone steam wands.
Flavorings:
There are many syrups or extracts that you can make or buy to add to your tea for a greater depth of flavor. I love to add some of my homemade vanilla extract to matcha or black tea with a little milk and sugar to create a London fog type of drink. You can also add in herbs or flowers like lavender, rose, or hibiscus when brewing your tea to create a flavored beverage. I love a lavender green tea or a rose black tea. When brewing loose leaf tea you have absolute creative freedom. I encourage you to experiment and see what you can come up with.
I hope you enjoyed this brief education on loose leaf tea. Do you brew loose leaf tea? What is your favorite variety? Leave a comment down below and let me know, I’d love to hear from you.
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