Why You Should Be Using Loose Tea Instead of Tea Bags

By Aditi Kulkarni

There’s been a lot of discussion about the difference between loose tea and tea bags — but I’m here to confirm that it’s loose tea all the way! For many, tea bags are the simplest option, but they also don’t realize that it’s not only so simple to brew loose tea, but also the benefits are bountiful. 

Tea bags tend to be created from cheaper tea dust, and smaller, and lower-quality tea particles. There is also less room for tea to move around since it is in a bag. What does that mean? No matter what flavor you’re brewing, the bag itself will limit the tea leaf’s movement and won’t release as much flavor — which means you might get less out of your tea bag.

The same isn't true for loose tea, which is composed of whole tea leaves that tend to contain more flavor and quality. When brewed, the tea leaves have more room to unfurl and release their complex depths of flavor — which means that your tea is all the tastier. Though you’ll usually see more tea bags in stores than loose tea, striving to get the latter will get you more flavor and an overall better tea experience. 

Beyond loose tea having a more potent taste, it’s also cost efficient — which may be surprising considering the misconception around tea bags being less expensive. Bags of loose tea, depending on size, can make more cups than a tea bag can. That, and you can even re-steep loose tea, which you can’t do with a tea bag. So, in the long term, loose tea can be the more economical option.

Brewing loose tea is so easy that you won’t miss your old tea bags. To brew loose tea, all you’ll need is a pot, boiling water, and either a tea infuser or tea strainer. It’s a great way to be creative with your tea and still have a flavorful cup at the same time.