We all tremble at the thought of David vs Goliath, Joker vs Batman and Luke vs Vader, but there is no more extraordinary battle than teabags vs loose tea.
Tea drinkers worldwide argue tooth and nail about which of the two is the best. At Leaf, we like to think that we know a little something about tea, so we think we can weigh in on the situation with our opinions on the matter.
Keep reading if you want to learn more from tea experts about the differences between teabags and loose-leaf teas, including their health benefits, flavour, and brewing process.
The History of Teabags
Before exploring the differences between teabags and loose-leaf tea, it’s essential to understand the history of teabags. This isn’t a chicken-and-egg dilemma; we know that people enjoyed loose tea long before teabags were created. So, what prompted this change?
Like any good tea story, the creation of the teabag starts in Britain… or so you might think; you may be surprised to hear that the teabag was actually created in America.
The arrival of tea in Britain in the seventeenth century completely changed British culture forever, creating a daily habit that would be passed down for generations. Inevitably, when America revolutionised against Britain, they ensured that they continued the most crucial British tradition- tea drinking.
Jump to 1908 (teabags are more recent than you might realise), a New York tea merchant, Thomas Sullivan, unintentionally invented the first teabag by sending customers small silk bags filled with tea samples. As the customers had never received the tea that way before, they mistakenly brewed it while it was still in the bag.
This happy accident resulted in the invention of tea bags, with the first commercial tea bags produced in paper form for the general public in the 1920s. Thanks to the mistakes of some New Yorkers in the 1900s, enjoying a cup of tea is more convenient than ever before.
The Differences Between Bagged and Loose Tea
Now that you know more about the history of the tea bag, let’s take a look at loose leaf vs. tea bags, and the differences between the two options.
Now, by no means are we biased as one of the UK’s most popular loose-leaf tea distributors, but we think that the following list might just highlight all of the fantastic features of loose tea.
The Tea Quality
It might not surprise you to learn that loose-leaf tea is generally considered higher quality than tea bags. This is because when you use loose-leaf tea, you tend to use whole, unbroken leaves, which have been proven to retain more natural oils and flavours, creating a more fragrant and tasty cup.
On the other hand, tea bags often contain lower-quality tea dust and broken leaves, which may result in less flavour and even bitterness. Because teabags are mass-produced, you often receive scraps in your bag, which lack taste.
Steeping Time
We live in a fast-paced world, and so understandably, people don’t want to waste time brewing tea. As you can imagine, loose-leaf tea often requires a longer steeping time than bagged tea, requiring around 3-5 minutes, while you can steep a teabag in less than 2 minutes.
Loose-leaf tea takes longer to steep because it gives the larger leaves a chance to unfurl and release more flavour. Tea bags, on the other hand, have smaller pieces of tea and do not require as much time to steep.
We think that a couple of extra minutes for steeping are well worth the result, and with the right teaware in your arsenal, you’ll hardly be able to tell the difference, especially once you get the delicious end product.
Flavour
In case we haven’t said it enough, you can expect much more flavour when using loose-leaf tea rather than bagged tea. This is because when the leaves in loose tea unfurl, they allow for a more in-depth flavour and aroma, while bagged teas tend to have less complex flavours that can often have a partially bitter taste.
Loose-leaf tea is not confined, allowing it to expand and fully unfurl while steeping, significantly boosting the release of flavour and aroma. In contrast, bagged tea is limited in space, preventing it from releasing its flavours as effectively.
At Leaf, we always recommend choosing loose-leaf for fruit and herbal teas, as they offer a much stronger flavour profile, making them more enjoyable to drink.
Convenience
It’s no surprise that tea bags are generally considered to be the more convenient option of the two, as they can be brewed directly in the mug for easy and quick serving. This does not mean that loose-leaf tea is incredibly inconvenient, it just might not be the best solution if you’re looking for a fast and convenient cup.
Sustainability
There is no question that loose-leaf tea is considerably more sustainable than bagged tea. Tea bags require substantially more packaging than loose tea, and each tea bag is single-use. Many teabag brands use non-biodegradable plastics in their bags, with millions going to landfills annually in the UK alone.
However, there has been an increase in more sustainable solutions, such as compostable teabags and reusable bags, but we are far from achieving true sustainability in the teabag industry.
Loose tea, on the other hand, is incredibly sustainable. It tends to come in a reusable container or a refill bag, perfect for adding a new tea to your collection. Unlike tea bags, loose-leaf tea can also be reused several times, so you get great value out of every bag that you buy.
Because the tea is loose, any waste can be easily compostable and sustainably disposed of.
Cost
It’s understandable to assume that loose-leaf will automatically be more expensive than tea bags, but that is not the case. Sure, some delicious loose tea is going to cost more than a box of PG-tips, but if you think about the volume of tea you get in comparison, along with the potential to reuse the tea, you are getting far more bang for your buck.
Loose teas are considerably cheaper per gram and allow you to fully control the strength of your tea, which means that you can use as much as you like at a time.
Looking to grab a bargain and save a bit of money? Take a look at our loose-leaf tea selection now.
Is Loose Leaf Tea Healthier?
It’s time to address the final comparison in the battle of tea bags vs loose tea, health benefits.
It is no secret that loose-leaf tea can come with an array of health benefits. This is because the larger leaves you find in loose tea allow for better extraction of essential oils and nutrients, so when you enjoy a cup of loose tea, you are getting the most out of every leaf, as you get all the health benefits at a greater concentration.
While tea bags can still offer health benefits, they are not as potent as loose leaves. This is because bagged tea tends to be lower quality, and so does not release the same oils and nutrients as loose tea.
Unleash Your Love For Loose Tea With Leaf
We think we have a clear winner in the battle of loose-leaf tea vs tea bags. By no means are we saying that teabags aren’t any good, they simply do not match the benefits of loose-leaf tea.
The flavour, quality, and overall experience of loose-leaf tea genuinely elevate it to a league of its own.
Interested in trying loose-leaf tea for yourself? Check out the teas we have available at Leaf.
