Where can I buy loose-leaf tea?

Loose-leaf tea is on the rise.

More and more people are looking for high-quality loose-leaf tea. While tea bags are still popular, there is a growing demand for loose-leaf tea. Loose-leaf tea not only offers a wider range of flavors, but it is also natural and therefore healthier. Here you can also read about the biggest differences between loose-leaf tea and tea bags, and what you should look for when buying loose-leaf tea!

What is the difference between loose-leaf tea and tea bags?

Form

Loose-leaf tea consists of whole leaves, flowers, and herbs or other ingredients that are not packed in a bag. It often retains the original shape of the tea leaves and can vary in size and quality. The flavor in loose-leaf tea is pure. Because the tea leaf has retained its original shape, the flavor is released more slowly. You can pour water over this tea multiple times and obtain a rich flavor again and again.

Tea in bags, on the other hand, usually contains finely ground, pulverized, or broken tea leaves, often known as "dust" or "fannings." These smaller particles can affect the quality of the tea. Due to the small particles, the tea is ready faster after pouring water than with loose-leaf tea. If you do not remove the tea bag immediately, the tea water can start to taste brackish or bitter.

Aromas

The aromas in tea bags are often coated onto coarse sugar crystals by most major brands. When (near) boiling water is poured over them, the sugar crystals melt and the aroma is released.

In loose-leaf tea, flavors are added by using flowers or herbs. For example, in the Aura Bloom green tea, 3 types of flowers are used. This makes the tea not only much more beautiful, but also naturally very rich in flavor.

Sustainability

Another advantage of loose-leaf tea is its sustainability! With tea bags, you have more waste. The string is often bleached cotton, and the bag itself contains unnatural materials. These cannot be recycled as easily.

What should you look for when buying loose-leaf tea?

Packaging

Tea is best stored in closed, dark packaging. Tea and light are not great friends. Light causes your tea to lose its intense flavor. Ensure that you always purchase tea in closed and resealable packaging and keep it in this packaging.

Preparation instructions

Make sure the preparation instructions for the tea are known. For example, on www.zijtak.be, we mention the temperature, time, and quantity on every package of our tea. This way, we are sure that our customers can prepare the tea properly and enjoy the quality more intensely!

Types of tea

Did you know that tea contains caffeine and infusions do not? Here you can read the differences between tea and infusion. "Real" tea, such as green, white, and black tea, always contains caffeine, making it better to drink these beverages in the morning or afternoon. Infusions, such as mint, ginger, chamomile, etc., contain no caffeine. You can drink these throughout the day and in the evening before going to sleep.

Want to learn more about tea?

Would you like to learn more about tea? Then be sure to attend or organize a tea workshop by ZijTak. This can be done at our tea atelier in Kortrijk or at a location of your choice!