We get so in-depth about tea around here that we sometimes forget to go back to the basics. It’s all well and good to make a sophisticated choice, but how do you even know that the tea is up to par in the first place? Here, we’ve put together a how-to guide on making sure you choose, store, and brew your tea the right way for the optimal cup.
Spotting the One
Ever go to the store, browse online, or get a sample of tea and wonder how to know whether you’ve got the good stuff?
We say it’s time to be more discerning! Many premium whole-leaf teas feature intact or intentionally shaped leaves rather than excessive dust or fine particles. The leaves should look fresh and show a natural color consistent with the tea’s style and processing, which can range widely even within the same tea category. Fresh tea should have a distinct, expressive aroma that gives you a sense of its character in the cup, without musty, moldy, stale, or strangely artificial scents.
When brewed properly, quality tea should have a distinct, enjoyable flavor without stale or unpleasant notes that seem out of place for that particular tea. Many whole-leaf teas will visibly unfurl and expand as they steep. Loose-leaf tea can vary tremendously in price, so a higher price alone doesn’t necessarily mean better quality—freshness, finishing techniques, and the characteristics of the brewed cup matter most.
And now you know when you’ve perhaps begun a meeting with your tea soulmate.
Sourcing the Best Teas
For organic tea sourcing, the label will tell you a lot. Organic certification generally indicates that the tea was produced by adhering to agricultural standards; rules around organic tea restrict or prohibit certain synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals, depending on the certification and country. It can be a meaningful choice if you value verified organic farming practices, ingredient transparency, and standards around how crops are grown. It just so happens that all of the Heavenly Tea Leaves suite of teas is certified organic! The label might also give you information about the tea’s origin, processing, and sourcing—and transparency is never a bad thing.
Once you’ve considered sourcing and quality, choose a loose leaf tea based on the flavor profile you enjoy most. Black tea, for example tends to be bold, deep, and full-bodied; green tea is typically fresh, vegetal, or grassy; white tea is light and subtly sweet; oolong can range from floral and creamy to roasted and earthy; herbal teas offer a wide variety of naturally caffeine-free (& some caffeinated) flavors; and rooibos is smooth, inherently sweet, and caffeine-free (a real bonus for those sensitive to caffeine, unable to drink it for health reasons, or simply love to imbibe around the clock). If you prefer bold, robust flavors, black teas or dark tea (aka pu’er) are a great place to start. White teas and many green teas are great places to start when you’re looking for a lighter, more delicate flavor profile.
What About Caffeine?
It’s possible you might get the jitters from too much caffeine, or, like us, you might absolutely love that extra energy boost every morning (and, er, afternoon). Either way, there’s a loose leaf tea for you. Caffeine levels vary by tea and preparation, so use broad categories rather than assuming an exact amount of caffeine. All traditional teas made from the camellia sinensis plant naturally contain caffeine, but the amount can vary widely depending on the leaf, cultivar, harvest, processing, quantity used, and brewing method, so tea type alone isn’t a reliable way to predict caffeine content.
Generally speaking, black teas generally contain moderate to high amounts of caffeine, while green and white teas tend to have a bit less, and oolong teas are somewhere in between. That’s why we don’t speak in absolutes around tea: matcha, for example, is a green tea yet can contain more caffeine per serving than many traditionally steeped green teas. Herbal teas and rooibos are (almost always) naturally caffeine-free unless blended with a caffeinated tea, so those are safe if you’re avoiding caffeine completely.
Fun fact: Using more tea, hotter water, or a longer steep time can increase the amount of caffeine extracted into your cup.
More In Store
A tea leaf’s worst enemies are air, moisture, heat, and light. Tea should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place in an airtight container to preserve its flavor and aroma. Store it in an airtight container for ideal storage. The container should also protect the tea from moisture and excessive heat or temperature fluctuations, all of which can contribute to a stale, flavorless, or old taste. An sealed glass jar, tin, metal, or ceramic canister in a cool kitchen cabinet—away from the stove, oven, sink, and dishwasher—is the ideal situation. Too much sunlight can also harm tea leaves—so keep your teas out of the sun. Tea also easily absorbs nearby odors, so keep it away from coffee, spices, herbs, scented products, and other intense foods (and definitely cleaning products). This is another reason why your storage jar and container can help maintain freshness. Heavenly Tea Leaves come in resealable bags and canisters and can remain in their own original packaging for freshness, too.
How To Brew
For this one, we’ve decided to keep it simple and deliver a cute little chart. Use this chart as a starting point, then adjust to the specific tea and your taste. For more info, visit our own tea-brewing page.
Common Tea Mistakes
When scanning teas for quality perfection, it’s easy to get distracted by price or superficial appearance (of either the leaves or packaging). If you get a chance to get a good look, remember to look at the condition and character of the leaves, freshness, aroma, and information about the tea’s origin, processing, and sourcing. Even an expensive tea can disappoint if it is old or poorly processed, while a well-sourced, carefully produced tea could be your best bet.
When you brew, use the correct tea-to-water ratio, water temperature, and steeping time for the specific tea. Clean, good-quality water and careful brewing can also make a noticeable difference in how clearly a tea’s natural flavor and aroma come through.
Here’s to hoping you won’t get bogged down by simple mistakes—you’re in this to choose the perfect loose leaf tea for the long haul!
