- Loose leaf tea leaves are bigger than the leaves in tea bags.Aromatic black and flower tea leaves image by eAlisa from Fotolia.com
The main difference between loose tea and tea bags is the size of the leaves. According to Color of Tea.com, an online site dedicated to tea, tea leaves that are loose will always be bigger than tea leaves in a bag. Most tea bags are made from dried tea leaves, which are also known as "fannings."
Because the size of the tea leaf matters when brewing a cup of tea, the larger loose leaves result in a more favorable cup of tea.
According to Learn-about-tea.com, the tea bags usually have "broken grades" of tea so that they can quickly infuse the water. - Loose leaf tea leaves hold on to more of their natural oils.tea leafs image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com
During the processing stage, fannings lose many of their natural oils. Loose leaf tea, however, keeps more of the natural oils, which are then released when the tea is steeped. The result is a better tasting cup of tea with more aroma and benefits, according to the Color of Tea.
Another reason loose leaf tea may be better than tea bags often has to do with the amount of time the tea can be on the shelf. Oftentimes, tea bags are well past the expiration date of staying fresh. Tea bags can sometimes be more than 18 months old, according to the Color of Tea. While loose leaf tea is best within six months, some black teas can stay fresh up to one year.
Loose tea also has more antioxidants and plant polyphenols than tea bags, notes the Color of Tea. - Loose tea comes in a greater variety than tea bags.metallic white kettle and two tea-pots image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
Teas in any format come in any flavor or taste imaginable---a glance down any grocery aisle will tell you that. However, there are actually more kinds of whole leaf teas available than tea bags, according to Learn-about-tea.com. Some higher quality teas are only available as loose-leaf teas. - The cost per cup can be lower when using loose tea than tea bags.cup of golden tea and cakes for tea-time image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
While loose tea can sometimes be more expensive than tea bags, it's not always the case. According to Learn-about-tea.com, high-quality loose tea is often lower per cup than commercial bagged tea. The difference is most of the cost in purchasing tea bags goes toward the "process of putting the teas in the bag" as well as advertising.
The organization notes that some high-quality teas sell for less than $20 per pound, resulting in a cost of less than 10 cents per cup. Use the tea leaves for a second pot, and it can be even cheaper. - Use an infuser to brew loose tea.preparation tea image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com
Brewing loose tea requires an extra step more than tea bags. To easily do so, pick up a device known as an infuser, which is readily found at stores ranging from supermarkets to high-end cooking stores. To use the infuser, place the tea leaves right into the metal container and hang it over the side of your tea pot or mug. Then, pour the hot water over the infuser and allow the water to steep. Remove the infuser when the tea has brewed to enjoy it.
To brew a good cup of tea, Color of Tea recommends using filtered water, letting boiling water cool down for half a minute to keep from burning the leaves, and following the brewing time recommendations on the tea bag to keep from oversteeping it.
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