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Monday, January 31, 2011
Why Should I Care About Loose Leaf Tea When Standard Tea Bags Are So Easy?
A common question among tea drinkers is “why should I bother with loose leaf tea when tea bags are so easy to come by at my local grocer? Don’t they have the same health benefits and flavors as their loose leaf counterparts anyway?” Answer: Not completely.
While most Americans feel that tea is tea, no matter what form it comes in, many studies out there are indicating the opposite. Yes, both products are created from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, the only true tea bush. However, the leaves that are put in typical tea bags versus loose leaf (also known as whole leaf) are processed via different methods. To understand this better, let’s first talk about what’s actually in a tea bag.
Tea bags come in different forms. The most common option is the bag we’ve all seen at our local grocer. The particles in the bags, known as fannings or dust, are tiny and are hugged snuggly by their outer wrappings. While all types of tea (white, green, oolong, black, and puerh) are processed via different methods, the teas that end up as fannings/dust are simply not given the time, space, and that loving tea artisan touch that causes them to develop their full depth of flavor and health benefits. As whole leaf teas go through the stages of oxidation, tumbling, firing, drying, etc. their characteristic antioxidants and flavors begin to develop. Don’t get me wrong, tea bags do have flavor….sometimes great flavor. However, by enlarge, the liquor produced by traditional grocery store tea bags simply can’t compare to the quality of flavor you’ll find in a cup of tea steeped from whole leaves.
More recently, since the popularity of loose leaf tea has grown in the US, a few companies have come out with loose leaf tea in larger pyramid tea bags. These bags are the tea industry’s answer to serving a health conscientious population of people on-the-go. The larger more spacious bags hold the tea while allowing the leaves to, for the most part, fully open as they steep. Thus, while it’s not ideal, it does allow the water to circulate around the leaves more efficiently than traditional tea bags, thereby imparting more flavor, antioxidants, vitamins, etc. into the surrounding water.
Let’s paint a visual picture to help further illustrate the point. Anyone who’s ever boiled a pound of spaghetti noodles knows that to get the best quality product in the end, you must make sure there’s plenty of water in the pot. Think back to those days when you were learning how to cook and you excitedly poured your pound of spaghetti noodles into a 2 quart pot of boiling water. Not quite big enough, right? What happened? Well, first the ends of the noodles probably stuck proudly out of the water for at least a minute as you desperately stirred, hoping the hot water would quickly soften them enough to allow you to forcibly push the pasta fully into the pot with your spoon. Eventually, the noodles gave way to their inevitable demise. After they cooked for the required amount of time, you drained the water out and what were you left with? Sticky noodles that clung desperately to each other as you tried to separate them. Yes, in the end you had cooked pasta. However, the final product was likely not exactly what you wanted. The pasta needed the space to be fully enveloped by hot water in order for them to properly cook. Tea is very similar. You’re still going to end up with tea in the end, whether you use the grocery store tea bags, pyramid tea bags, or loose leaf tea. The quality will be that much better though if it’s prepared in the ideal fashion.
Not only do the grocery store tea bags have cut up pieces that don’t give as much flavor but the bag isn’t big enough for the water to fully surround the fannings. Thus, the flavors are weaker. (Because I know you’re currently thinking it, steeping the bag longer typically will only make the tea bitter. It will rarely make your tea stronger and more flavorful. This mistake has sadly turned many people off of tea.) Ideally, of course, loose tea is best. However, if you’re one of those on-the-go people who don’t have time for loose leaf tea then pyramid tea bags might be for you. Bear in mind though that there are a few easy tricks to making bag free loose leaf tea easier and more convenient. (We’ll explore more options in a future blog, but for now I’ll leave you with my favorite method….iced tea! If you spend a little time one evening or morning preparing a pitcher of tea, all you have to do is pour from it whenever you desire a healthy fix. Want it hot? Stick it in the microwave.)
I have yet to meet someone who tried loose leaf tea and then decided bagged tea in fanning form was better. After all, who can turn down superb flavor, lower cost (because loose leaf tea can prepare multiple cups whereas bags rarely can), and the abundance of health benefits that come with whole leaf tea? Hang on to your cup because you’re about to embark on a journey of tea that will tickle your taste buds and could even make you healthier along the way! It’s the quality of the liquor produced that drives the tea aficionado’s passion for loose leaf tea because there’s simply nothing as wonderful and I have a feeling you’ll soon agree!
While most Americans feel that tea is tea, no matter what form it comes in, many studies out there are indicating the opposite. Yes, both products are created from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, the only true tea bush. However, the leaves that are put in typical tea bags versus loose leaf (also known as whole leaf) are processed via different methods. To understand this better, let’s first talk about what’s actually in a tea bag.
Tea bags come in different forms. The most common option is the bag we’ve all seen at our local grocer. The particles in the bags, known as fannings or dust, are tiny and are hugged snuggly by their outer wrappings. While all types of tea (white, green, oolong, black, and puerh) are processed via different methods, the teas that end up as fannings/dust are simply not given the time, space, and that loving tea artisan touch that causes them to develop their full depth of flavor and health benefits. As whole leaf teas go through the stages of oxidation, tumbling, firing, drying, etc. their characteristic antioxidants and flavors begin to develop. Don’t get me wrong, tea bags do have flavor….sometimes great flavor. However, by enlarge, the liquor produced by traditional grocery store tea bags simply can’t compare to the quality of flavor you’ll find in a cup of tea steeped from whole leaves.
More recently, since the popularity of loose leaf tea has grown in the US, a few companies have come out with loose leaf tea in larger pyramid tea bags. These bags are the tea industry’s answer to serving a health conscientious population of people on-the-go. The larger more spacious bags hold the tea while allowing the leaves to, for the most part, fully open as they steep. Thus, while it’s not ideal, it does allow the water to circulate around the leaves more efficiently than traditional tea bags, thereby imparting more flavor, antioxidants, vitamins, etc. into the surrounding water.
Let’s paint a visual picture to help further illustrate the point. Anyone who’s ever boiled a pound of spaghetti noodles knows that to get the best quality product in the end, you must make sure there’s plenty of water in the pot. Think back to those days when you were learning how to cook and you excitedly poured your pound of spaghetti noodles into a 2 quart pot of boiling water. Not quite big enough, right? What happened? Well, first the ends of the noodles probably stuck proudly out of the water for at least a minute as you desperately stirred, hoping the hot water would quickly soften them enough to allow you to forcibly push the pasta fully into the pot with your spoon. Eventually, the noodles gave way to their inevitable demise. After they cooked for the required amount of time, you drained the water out and what were you left with? Sticky noodles that clung desperately to each other as you tried to separate them. Yes, in the end you had cooked pasta. However, the final product was likely not exactly what you wanted. The pasta needed the space to be fully enveloped by hot water in order for them to properly cook. Tea is very similar. You’re still going to end up with tea in the end, whether you use the grocery store tea bags, pyramid tea bags, or loose leaf tea. The quality will be that much better though if it’s prepared in the ideal fashion.
Not only do the grocery store tea bags have cut up pieces that don’t give as much flavor but the bag isn’t big enough for the water to fully surround the fannings. Thus, the flavors are weaker. (Because I know you’re currently thinking it, steeping the bag longer typically will only make the tea bitter. It will rarely make your tea stronger and more flavorful. This mistake has sadly turned many people off of tea.) Ideally, of course, loose tea is best. However, if you’re one of those on-the-go people who don’t have time for loose leaf tea then pyramid tea bags might be for you. Bear in mind though that there are a few easy tricks to making bag free loose leaf tea easier and more convenient. (We’ll explore more options in a future blog, but for now I’ll leave you with my favorite method….iced tea! If you spend a little time one evening or morning preparing a pitcher of tea, all you have to do is pour from it whenever you desire a healthy fix. Want it hot? Stick it in the microwave.)
I have yet to meet someone who tried loose leaf tea and then decided bagged tea in fanning form was better. After all, who can turn down superb flavor, lower cost (because loose leaf tea can prepare multiple cups whereas bags rarely can), and the abundance of health benefits that come with whole leaf tea? Hang on to your cup because you’re about to embark on a journey of tea that will tickle your taste buds and could even make you healthier along the way! It’s the quality of the liquor produced that drives the tea aficionado’s passion for loose leaf tea because there’s simply nothing as wonderful and I have a feeling you’ll soon agree!
Friday, January 7, 2011
New Year's Resolutions!!
Don't forget about your New Year's Resolutions for 2011! Want to be healthy and slim down? Oolong, Mate`, and Puerh teas are said to aid in digestion and encourage weight loss. Need to lower your cholesterol? Mate` and Puerh teas are reputed to help do just that. Shop for tea at www.tea-addiction.com to kickstart your goals today!!
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