Enjoying Loose Leaf Teas
Until recently, consumers have been offered little less than the generic brand teas found on the grocery store shelves. These teas, presented in pre-bagged, bleached paper were almost always of the same poor quality. The average consumer has been unaware of the enormous variety, flavor, and value of tea. When loose leaf teas started to appear in the Western markets, consumers took immediate interest. Suddenly they could smell, touch, and see the leaves before drinking the tea. Like wine connoisseurs, tea specialists appeared on the scene, educating people about everything from the regional tea differences to the processing and storage of this good-health producing plant.
What’s the Difference?
The main difference between bagged teas and the loose leaf variety is the leaf size. Powerful antioxidants and essential oils present in tea leaves are the basis for the flavor of tea. Those essential oils evaporate when the tea leaves are crushed and it results in a tasteless tea. Most tea bags contain tiny pieces of broken leaves, called fannings, and are little more than dust; this is the lowest grade of tea. Loose leaf teas, by comparison, are whole leaves or large pieces of leaves. Because tea bags are mass-produced, the processing of the leaves is often done by machines whereas loose leaf teas have been carefully hand selected.
Tea Leaves Need Their Space
For teas to reach their full flavor, the leaves need space to expand in the water as they seep. Tea bags, if used, need to have plenty of room for the water to circulate. Typical teabags sold on the grocery shelves provide little space for the leaves, or pieces of leaves, to expand and infuse.
Better Health Benefits
Because loose leaf teas go through less processing, they retain more of the essential vitamins and minerals as well as the antioxidants that make the tea plant so healthy. So if you are looking for the healthy benefits that teas have to offer, organic loose leaf teas are the best choices.
Is Convenience the Only Issue?
Although tea bags are more convenient in many ways, decide if you are willing to sacrifice all the benefits and flavor this plant can offer. Tea companies are working to combine convenience with quality and better infuser bags and specialty teapots are starting to appear on the market. But if you are looking for the best flavor, variety, and health related benefits, the choice is easy: stew your own organic loose-leaf teas.
