People have been brewing loose leaf tea for millennia. Like many other things, brewing tea in bags is an invention of modern convenience culture; turning something that was once a soothing ritual into a quick caffeinated cup. I’m sure it won’t surprise you to discover that I’m a passionate advocate for loose leaf tea, especially as a slow-living practice. I believe brewing loose leaf tea is the epitome of slow living as it rejects our culture of prepackaged and highly processed convenience foods and embraces the sacrament of slow.
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Benefits of Loose leaf tea
Less expensive
Loose leaf tea is much less expensive than its bagged counterpart because you’re buying in bulk. You can store tea in tins, or my favorite: sealed jars to keep it fresh for many months.
Quality and freshness
When tea isn’t stored in paper bags in a cardboard box, it maintains its freshness much longer. Loose leaf tea is sealed in airtight packaging when sold and stored which is why it always tastes more crisp and flavorful. Additionally, loose leaf teas are typically made from higher-quality ingredients. Bagged tea leaves are typically low quality, with small particles of leaves (which some call tea dust), whereas loose leaf tea leaves are left whole and sourced from fair trade farms.
Fewer chemicals and a healthier product
Many tea bags contain microplastics and bleach that when exposed to hot water will seep into your beverage. This is, of course, bad for our health and affects the flavor of the tea. Loose leaf tea is usually stored in tin or glass making it plastic and bleach-free!
Customization
One of my favorite parts of brewing loose leaf tea is how much creative freedom I have. For example, I can make my own Chai concentrate by adding more tea, less water, and brewing for longer. I can also cold brew tea in water for a day or two, or make a big batch and turn it into kombucha. The quality and loose structure of the tea make it easy to brew however you like!
A Slower way to live
The best part of loose leaf tea is that it can be fast or slow. There are tons of quick, convenient ways to brew loose leaf tea (I’ll link some below when we talk about products!) and there are also slow, mindful ways to brew. I love being able to make a quick cup to take on a chilly fall road trip and I love to serve tea to my friends in vintage tea cups with a slice of Dutch Apple Cake. Making a cup of tea is a sacred ritual in some cultures for this very reason: it is a slow, intentional process where you must be mindful and attentive to each step.
Where to buy loose leaf tea
There are many ways to purchase loose leaf tea: online, at a local shop, at your farmer’s market, or in a regional or national grocery store. I like to buy most of mine online or locally.
Mountain Rose Herbs
This is my favorite online tea distributor. Their blends are all organic, made from real whole foods ingredients, priced fairly, and shipped quickly. Here are a few of my favorites:
Classic Chai-I like to serve it with lots of vanilla and a splash of milk.
Earl Grey Tea-One of my favorite earls, if you love bergamot, you will delight in this blend.
5th Chakra tea-Don’t let the name confuse you, this herbal tea packs a big punch when you’re sick or have a sore throat.
Berry Bramble-Very fruity and perfect iced in the summer.
Gunpowder Green-I will drink this delicious green plain, but I especially like to make Green Tea Kombucha with it.
Sleep Tea-This blend is wonderful to drink before bed for a restful night’s sleep.
Local loose leaf tea
I also source tea from a lady who grows and blends locally. Her business is called Me Plus Tea and I buy from her at the farmer’s market or order local delivery. I would recommend looking for someone who blends tea locally to you for the freshest option.
I also occasionally buy bulk loose-leaf tea from my local health foods store. I can bring my own jar and fill it up, so it’s a nice option. Check out whatever local health food store is near you and you will most likely find a nice variety of loose-leaf tea.
Favorite Recipes and Infusions
Perfect Autumn Green Tea
Add chopped apples, oranges, and mint to a pot of green tea. Add honey and steep to taste
Herbal Medicine
Steep green and peach tea together. Add lots of lemon and honey to taste!
London Fog
Earl Grey with vanilla and steamed milk
Berry lemonade
I steep crushed berries with berry tea and add lots of lemon and honey. This one is also great served over ice.
Dirty Chai
Steep a strong chai and add a shot of espresso. Finish with steamed milk and optional sugar
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