Loose Leaf Tea 101

Discover a new way to enjoy tea with loose leaf steeping - an easy, mess-free, and stylish way to make your favorite teas. In this guide, you will learn what makes loose-leaf tea so popular and pick up some simple techniques that will make you feel like a loose-leaf tea pro in no time.

What Is Loose Leaf Tea?

You might think that loose leaf tea is just a collection of tea leaves without it being contained in a tea bag or sachet. What makes loose leaf tea special is that when it is brewed, it captures the full flavors of every aspect of the plant it comes from. The world is full of a plethora of tea varieties all processed uniquely to create incredible flavors and benefits. Utilizing loose leaf tea to brew your next cup is the perfect way to experience the tea’s natural colors, fragrances, and flavors creating a feast for the senses.

Why Loose Leaf Tea?

The producers of loose leaf tea work hard to cultivate the finest whole leaves, herbs, spices, and even fruits to deliver the fullest flavor in each cup. Loose leaf teas retain more nutrients because they are minimally processed, this leads to a rich and robust full-bodied flavor. Another aspect that many loose leaf drinkers appreciate is that loose leaf tea can often be re-steeped and used for multiple brews. Thanks to re-steeping and zero bags to throw away, loose leaf tea is kind to your wallet and the environment.

How Can I Make Loose Leaf Tea?

Some might think brewing loose leaf tea is complicated because you have to spoon in your tea to steep instead of just adding a pre-portioned teabag. Rest assured, the brewing process is quite literally “same, same, but different.” You will still heat water in a kettle, pour the hot water over the tea, and steep until the tea is ready to drink. The only difference in the loose leaf technique is you will need a tea strainer to prevent tea particles from “hanging around” in the cup of tea you are going to enjoy. Thanks to our friends at Firebelly Tea, we have a Tea Strainer that makes brewing loose leaf tea easy and mess-free and comes with a handy resting cup. This tea strainer is intuitive, easy to clean, and will have you excited to make your next cup of tea whenever and wherever!

3 Tips For The Perfect Cup Every Time

You’ve got your loose leaf tea picked out, kettle on the stove, and Ember Mug 2 charged. To ensure that you make the perfect cup of tea, below are some pro tips from the experts at Firebelly Tea.

• How much loose leaf tea do I need to brew a cup? 
• The rule of thumb is to use 1 tablespoon of loose leaf tea per cup. If tea lattes or iced teas are your favorite, double the amount of loose leaf tea you are steeping.
• Is it too hot?
• Using boiling water will burn the tea, it's always recommended to wait a couple of minutes before adding hot water to your tea. This point is especially crucial for green teas that are delicate and more susceptible to burning during the brewing process. 
• Is your tea tasting bitter?
• Heat and time maketh a splendid cup of tea. If you notice that your tea tastes bitter, odds are you either steeped it for too long or your water was too hot and scalded the tea.

 

We hope you are feeling confident and ready to brew aromatic and delicious loose leaf teas. If you haven’t settled on a loose leaf tea, be sure to head to Ember Brews to see our amazing selection of teas from Firebelly Tea. Happy Steeping!

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