The Big Debate: Loose tea vs tea bags ?

Tea bags

Tea bag devotees will tell you that their way is the simplest, quickest and most practical way to make a good cup of tea.

Nowadays, the amount of tea per cup has already been measured out in a tea bag, so you don’t even need to think about it! Just pop it in your cup, let it brew, and your work is done.

However, if you stick to tea bags, you’ll continue to miss out on the vast choice of high quality teas on offer. For a start, it’s not easy to find pure origin tea sold in sachets. That said, if you prefer your tea sweetened or with a drop of milk, then tea bags are likely to fit the bill perfectly.

Although tea in sachets are very convenient, it doesn’t mean you should neglect the preparation side of things. To extract all the flavours from your tea and to avoid bitterness, always check the instructions for the correct water temperature and infusion time.

Look out for pyramid-shaped tea bags as they tend to unleash all the aromas better than flat sachets.

Loose leaf tea

Unsurprisingly, loose leaf tea enthusiasts will tell you that this format beats tea bags every time! The choice is certainly much greater: you can pick from all kinds of blends and flavours under the sun. Once you’ve settled for one, it’s all about knowing what ratio of tea to water best suits you (the basic ratio is 2g / 10cl) and how to brew your tea. In other words: which infusion method should you use? And that’s where I hope to be helpful.

Above all else, loose tea needs space to infuse properly. So my first tip is to avoid small infusers that will restrict the extraction of all the lovely flavours. Tea leaves must have as much contact as possible with water, hence the need for a bigger filter.

When it boils down to loose tea vs. tea bags, the choice is yours to make. Whichever you choose, or if you alternate between the two, always go for a tea that you enjoy and suits your taste buds. We hope you now have a better understanding of loose tea vs. tea bags and hope you enjoy a perfect cup of tea, regardless of which form you choose.