Understanding the Differences Between Loose Leaf Tea & Tea Bags

 Due to widespread convenience & availability of teabags in grocery stores, teabags vs loose leaf tea is the most common choice of tea consumption in Australia. However due to an increased awareness for ‘tea’, due to growing movements in specialty tea stores, bubble tea, café tea lattes, ice teas & kombucha tea products – People are starting to develop their palates for tea and are becoming more interested in making tea, understanding its health benefits and experiencing a greater array of tea products.

Similarly to become a connoisseur of wine, you must experience an array of teas and tea products, in order to notice the variability, complexity and diversity of this ancient beverage. There are primarily 6 different kinds of tea: Green, yellow, white, oolong, black & pu-erh - With all teas available as loose leaf tea products. All types of tea originate from the same tea tree (Camellia sinensis). It is amazing how differences in the way the tea leaves are processed, is what creates these very different tasting tea types. 

Most experienced tea drinkers will always opt for the preparation of loose leaf tea over the consumption of teabags, for a variety of reasons. One of the most proclaimed differences between loose Leaf tea and tea bags is the complexity of flavour.

Quality loose leaf tea normally consists of longer unbroken leaves, as opposed to teabags and some store bought teas, where the tea leaves can be quite small, broken and contain tea dust (known as fannings). Unlike with small broken leaves, longer loose leaf tea leaves will swell, roll and uncurl as they steep, releasing a more complex flavour and aroma from the tea. Loose leaf tea purchased from tea specialists, such as TeaLovers, will normally be much fresher than mass produced supermarket teas. You will also find that tea purchased from a tea specialist, will more than likely be sourced from a single origin tea farm, as opposed to supermarket teas which are often a blend of many teas sourced from all over the world. Supermarket teas tend to be blends based on a structured tea recipe, which typically reaps a one dimensional and dominant flavour characteristic. 

As loose leaf tea swells and uncurls during steeping, it is also said to extract more essential vitamins, minerals and oils from the tea leaves, as opposed to teabags which primarily contain tea dust & smaller broken leaves.

Although teabags are a convenient option, the preparation of loose leaf tea can be made very easy with a multitude of simple loose leaf tea infusers products available on the market.

To explore our diverse array of Loose Leaf Teas and Tea Infuser products please visit www.TeaLovers.com.au - Your tea specialists since 2001.

Location - 15 Mcpherson Rd, Smeaton Grange NSW 2567 - AUSTRALIA