If you’re looking to brew the perfect pot of tea, you might wonder whether you should use loose tea or tea bags. Both options have their own unique benefits. Loose-leaf tea is often the best choice for tea-drinking enthusiasts, allowing them to explore the full flavor potential of each tea blend. If you’re new to tea, you’ll probably gravitate toward tea bags because of their accessibility and convenience.
It’s important to consider the advantages and disadvantages of both options. In doing so, you’ll be able to figure out what’s most important to you and make a confident decision.
What Is Loose Tea?
Loose-leaf tea is whole tea leaves that haven’t been crushed, broken, or put into individual packages. It’s usually sold in a large bag or canister and doesn’t have the pouches, packaging, strings, tags, and stapes that tea bags do.
There are a few different ways you can use the leaves to make tea:
- Place the leaves directly in hot water
- Place the leaves within a metal tea ball
- Place the leaves in a strainer
- Use a teapot that has a built-in tea infuser
- Place the leaves into a French press with water
With tea balls and strainers, the tea is contained in a small unit that can be submerged in the hot water. This is sometimes easier so you don’t have to filter out the leaves when you are done brewing the beverage.
Loose Tea Pros
There are many benefits to loose-leaf tea. Some of the basic benefits are affordability and environmental friendliness. Buying large containers of loose tea leaves is usually much cheaper than packaged bags. It also reduces the amount of packaging and waste that could negatively impact the environment.
Whole-leaf tea tends to have much more flavor. You can enjoy the complexity, depth, and full potential of the tea. That’s why this form is usually the favorite for tea enthusiasts. The fact that the leaves aren’t tightly packed into a bag also allows them to slowly unfurl and contribute to the flavor.
There are a nearly infinite number of flavors to choose from when it comes to loose-leaf tea. Not only can you select a single type, but you can mix and match to find your perfect blend. Many teas offer specific benefits, such as help sleeping, immunity support, or digestion, so combining tea leaves can help you reap several rewards with just one cup. What’s more, you’ll also get a higher potency for more of an effect when it comes to whole leaves.
Loose Tea Cons
There are some loose-leaf tea cons to keep in mind when shopping around. When you make your first purchase, tea leaves can cost more than tea bags. However, you’ll end up making many more cups, so while you’re paying more upfront, you’ll experience cost savings in the end. But if you’re not a huge tea drinker and won’t go through the entire canister, it might not be the best for your budget.
The other major consideration for loose tea is the time and effort it takes to brew. First, you’ll have to measure out the tea leaves. It usually takes around 1-2 teaspoons of loose leaves to make 8 ounces of tea. Keep in mind that you’ll be able to re-steep the tea up to two or three times. After measuring, you have to figure out how you’re going to brew the tea. You might use a french press, teapot, tea infuser, or other appliance. You must make sure there is some type of strainer, filter, or infuser to be able to easily separate the tea leaves from the liquid.
What Are Tea Bags?
Tea bags are small porous containers packed with bits of tea and in some cases, other herbs. Tea bags are usually individually packaged in small plastic pouches, and collected into a large cardboard box. There are various sizes available, so you can choose the amount that best suits your tea-drinking habits.
Tea bags are relatively simple to use. You can put them in a cup and pour hot water over them, or you can prepare a mug of hot water and submerge the bag and let it infuse the liquid. When finished, you simply take the tea bag out and dispose of it.
Tea Bag Pros
Like loose-leaf tea, tea bags have their own unique advantages. If you’re looking for convenience and accessibility, or are intimidated by the process of brewing loose-leaf tea, the bags might be the right choice for you.
The major appeal to tea bags is their convenience. You simply open the package, pull out the tea bag, and submerge it into your cup of hot water. They usually have a long string and tab so it’s easy to dip and remove as desired. If you’re making tea on the go or at work, this might be a great option for you to save time and hassle.
Another appeal to tea bags is their accessibility. You can find them at pretty much any grocery store so you don’t have to hunt down what you’re looking for. There are typically still many flavors to choose from, though you might not have as much access to blends as you would with loose-leaf versions.
Tea Bag Cons
There are some disadvantages to tea bags that might deter you. First off, they usually don’t have as much flavor. The tea leaves are usually ground up, broken up, or even turned into dust to be packed into the small packaging. This can diminish the taste and deny you the tea’s full flavor potential.
If you’re drinking tea for the health benefits, tea bags might not be as potent. They may produce a cup of tea as concentrated as a cup of loose-leaf tea, minimizing the effects. As previously mentioned, it’s hard to find tea blends in tea bags, so you can’t mix and match the possible health advantages.
Finally, tea bags aren’t very environmentally friendly. They require a lot of extra packaging, especially if they are individually sealed in small pouches. Tea pouches usually aren’t biodegradable either. So for those who are looking to live an eco-friendly life, you might want to reach for the loose leaves.
Which Form of Tea Is Best For Me?
When it comes to buying tea, compare the pros and cons of both options to determine which is best for you. Figure out what your tea-buying and tea-drinking priorities are to make a confident decision. Below is a summary of potential advantages and disadvantages to consider when comparing loose tea leaves and tea bags.
Loose-leaf tea pros:
- Plentiful flavor
- Health advantages
- Affordability
- Eco-friendliness
Loose-leaf tea cons:
- Time and effort required
- Extra tools required
- Upfront cost
Tea bag pros:
- Convenience
- Accessibility
- Decent number of choices
Tea bag cons:
- Lack of flavor
- Decreased health benefits
- Long-term costliness
- Environmental impact
If you are drawn to the highlights of loose-leaf tea but are concerned about the effort it takes to make a cup of tea, there are some things to consider. There are many tea filters and strainers available that make it incredibly simple to steep. Simply scoop the required amount of leaves into the tool, and submerge it in the water. This can give the convenience of a tea bag without the added packaging.
Ultimately the choice is yours. Explore different options, try both loose-leaf tea, and tea bags, and pursue what makes the most sense for your tastebuds and lifestyle.
