5 REASONS TO KEEP IT LOOSE (LEAF TEA)
We know our regular customers need no reminders about why loose leaf teas are best. And the best of loose leaf teas are better than you can possibly imagine. But if you’re new to loose leaf teas, or merely curious, then a little background might help. Because experiencing loose leaf for the first time can be a revelation. So it’s nice to know what’s going on there.
1. Taste
Fundamentally it’s about taste, and aroma too. Loose leaf teas possess a depth, strength, richness, subtlety, complexity, freshness, delicacy, sophistication, and purity that leaves the main alternative (which we won’t mention) far, far behind.
All that, you say - really? Yes, really.
Just try a traditional loose leaf mountain Sencha and savor the perfect balance of unami and astringency, or the slight floral green tea taste of our Kamairicha, and you’ll have sampled only two of the many classic blends from Japan alone. But why such a big difference in taste? Let’s start by looking at the quality of the ingredients.
2. Quality
With loose leaves you’re getting whole or partially cut leaves, or maybe buds. And already that can have a profound impact on the taste. Greater quantities of natural oils will be present in the leaves so both the flavors and the aromas will begin to sing and soar. And more valuable antioxidants will also be retained. Of course, it’s likely that those loose leaves will have been harvested at just the right time and then selected with considerable care. But quality doesn’t stop with the core materials, it continues with how they’re prepared and processed.
3. Freshness
Much of the effort that goes into preparing loose leaf teas is about harnessing their freshness. This is what first-time tasters often comment upon - the naturalness and clarity of the flavor, as though their senses had suddenly been awakened. As you’ll have guessed, this is no accident. Great pains are taken by the finest producers to ensure that that distinctive freshness is preserved. Each has their own way of doing things Our teas use food-grade nitrogen packaging to ensure that they reach you precisely as they’ve left our makers.
4. Integrity
Inside that essential packaging, you’ll find only the loose leaves. No capsules, cartridges, gauzy pyramids, and definitely no sad little bags (sorry, we couldn’t not mention them). From nature back to nature, loose leaf teas are readily compostable. Anything else - however superficially convenient - would just get in the way, inhibit flavor, and create needless waste. And we hate waste.
5. Diversity
But we love the extraordinary range and variety of loose leaf teas that are now available. Take your pick from the basic categories of Black tea, White tea, Green tea, Oolong tea, Herbal tea and Pu’er tea, and then explore. From the rich and slightly floral aroma of a classic Darjeeling to the refined elegance of the finest Silver Needle tea, to our own innovatively post-fermented Pu'er Yamabuki Nadeshiko, there’s a loose leaf tea out there with your name on it. The search begins…
To start brewing real tea you need the right tools! Choose a portable glass quality infuser and a few loose leaf organic teas - you won't go back!
A range of USDA organic certified Japanese loose leaf teas. 100% organic farmed and blended by some of the most renowned, award-winning Tea Masters of Japan.