How do I make looseleaf tea?

Preparing looseleaf tea is easy, and welcomes personal experimentation. A favorite mug and a basket infuser are all you need to get started, or try a simple gaiwan or teapot, which are available in a range of sizes and styles. The first step in brewing good tea is starting with good-tasting water. For more, follow our step-by-step guides for how to make hot and iced teas.

What’s the difference between looseleaf and teabags?

Teabags are only as good as what’s inside them: historically, they have prioritized convenience firmly over taste, as they are often made with lower grade leaves designed to steep quickly and consistently at the expense of nuance. Our teabags, however, are filled with the same high-quality teas that we also carry as looseleaf.

Simply put, the small yields of the best traditional teas means that they won’t be found in bags. Looseleaf tea, in addition, offers the brewer much more control of the steeping process, since you can determine the leaf dosage rather than working with a pre-portioned amount.

How are your teabags made?

Recent reports on microplastics leaking out of “silken” teabags have raised valid health and environmental concerns among tea drinkers. Our teabags are made in Japan out of a different, completely plant-based material: polylactic acid (PLA), derived from corn. Once filled with tea, the bags are electrostatically sealed, requiring no glue or metal staples—ensuring the flavor of the tea is all you taste in your cup. PLA is biodegradable when processed in a commercial composting facility.

Is your tea organic? What about fair trade?

While we strive to source tea that's grown cleanly and sustainably, we also are looking for tea that’s processed well. These factors can be independent of each other. Ideally, we source organically grown and masterfully made tea, but we find that many certified organic teas on the market are more focused on marketing this as opposed to producing stellar tea. 

The cost and arduous process of organic and fair-trade certification is financially challenging for many of the small producers that we work with. That's why we spend time with our farmers during production, buy directly from them, and spot-test our teas. Testing everything we source would be cost prohibitive, but we will test if there is any uncertainty about the purity of the tea.

Many of our teas are grown organically, but as our warehouse is not an organic-certified facility, we do not label them as such. Click here for more on our work with small and organic farms.

Is your tea gluten-free? 

The Camellia sinensis tea plant is naturally gluten-free. As our warehouse is not a certified gluten-free facility, however, we do not brand our teas as such.

Do you have caffeine-free tea?

All teas hails from the Camellia sinensis plant, which produces caffeine. The level of caffeine can vary slightly by individual tea, but does not correspond to general tea categories, so there are no truly accurate guidelines to follow, and we don’t label caffeine content. There is a decaffeination process used in the industry for low-grade teas, and it tends to remove all the inherent flavor and fragrance. So for those wishing to avoid caffeine, we recommend drinking an herbal infusion. All our herbals are 100% naturally caffeine-free.

How long does tea last, and how should I store it?

Most teas are best consumed as close as possible after harvest; peak flavor and fragrance tend to dissipate after six to 12 months. Some teas, like pu-erhs, are intentionally aged for years or decades so they can rest and deepen in complexity. But generally speaking, store your tea well—away from air, heat, light and strong odors—and drink it up! 

What are the health benefits of your tea?

Throughout tea's history, it has been associated with significant physiological effects beyond its delicious taste and aroma. Modern studies indicate that these healing properties may have a scientific basis, as regular consumption of tea may enhance immune function and digestion, lower stress levels, and contribute other benefits. It's important to note, however, that none of the research to date is conclusive outside of a laboratory setting. Furthermore, these studies often involve very different parameters, making it difficult to accurately compare results. To learn more, read our primer on tea chemistry and health.