Loose Leaf Tea vs. Tea Bags

“You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy tea and that’s kind of the same thing” ~Unknown

At Mimi’s Teas we sell only premium, loose leaf tea. Why?

There are a number of reasons, but they all come back to quality.  Although loose leaf tea and tea in bags originate from the same plant, a great number of factors influence the quality, taste and longevity of the final product.

Premium loose teas are made from the Camellia sinensis plant using the finest hand-picked buds, whole tea leaves, large pieces of leaves or a combination of these parts. The time of year and growing conditions greatly affect the quality of tea.

Many companies use quality tea in their bags; however, the vast majority of tea bags consist of smaller pieces of tea leaves, also known as fannings or dust.  These smaller pieces provide a quicker steep, but lack the complexity and full flavor of the larger loose leaf.  Most White and Oolong tea can be re-steeped multiples times with subsequent steepings oftentimes resulting in a better tasting cup.   In comparison, tea bags, due to their contents, frequently release more tannins than loose leaf resulting in a harsher tasting cup.

Tea will retain its freshness when properly stored.  There are four things which cause tea to lose its potency; heat, air, light, and moisture.  Packaging for your tea should be airtight and stored in a dark, cool, dry location.  Consider tins, even your Christmas cookie tins (air and light), kept in a pantry away from the stove (heat and moisture).

In conclusion, we really love tea!  Our loose leaf teas are always made with larger tea leaves so you will see the quality of your final tea blend.  Try one of our loose leaf teas and you may never use a tea bag again.  Loose leaf teas also allow you to blend flavors and different types of tea easily.