A Beginner’s Guide to Loose Leaf Tea

Welcome to the delightful world of loose leaf tea. Whether you’re a tea expert or just beginning your journey, this guide will help you understand the basics of loose leaf tea at Shibui and provide you with top tips when brewing loose leaf tea.

Benefits of Loose Leaf Tea vs Tea Bags

Loose leaf tea can be considered as having more flavour than tea bags. Now, our tea bag blends are the same blends as their loose leaf counterpart. However, the reason why it is often thought of as more luxurious is because the tea leaves release their full flavour when they unfurl in hot water. They have more space to open up and move around, resulting in a more heavenly cup. 

Up until recently, traditional tea bags were always made of paper and didn’t have enough space for the loose leaf tea to unfurl in meaning they could not open fully. A cheaper dust or fannings were used instead so as to not burst the bag. However, more recently, with the advent of the pyramid tea bags - there is now much more space for the loose tea to move around in, releasing more flavour. Albeit, not as much as a whole teapot when it comes to loose leaf tea, but the difference is much less than it was. All of the tea in our tea bags is the same as what is available in loose leaf form. You choose what is more practical for you!

What I love about loose leaf tea is that the tea leaves are entirely home compostable. Introduce them into your garden soil and your plants will love you for it. Sprinkle them directly around your plants to boost soil quality, deter pests, and retain moisture.

So next time you enjoy a cup of loose leaf tea, remember that you are contributing to a sustainable cycle by nourishing your plants while reducing waste!

Brewing Loose Leaf Tea: Teapot vs. Filters

Brewing with a Teapot

Brewing loose leaf tea in a teapot is a traditional method which ensures a full flavour. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Choose your teapot: We all have a go to teapot, so use yours!
2. Measure your tea: A general rule of thumb is to use one teaspoon of loose leaf tea per cup (2-3g). Adjust the amount based on your taste preference.
3. Boil the water: Different teas require different water temperatures. See our water temperature guide for specific recommendations, including steeping times for each type of tea.
4. Steep and Serve: Place the loose leaves directly into the teapot or use a strainer. Pour the hot water over the leaves and let them steep according to the recommended time. If your teapot doesn’t have a built-in strainer, pour the tea through a separate strainer into your cup and enjoy.

Note: For green and white teas, always use water that has cooled slightly after boiling to prevent scorching the leaves and avoiding a bitter taste.

Tip: If you’re in a hurry, pour boiling water into a cold teapot first, then add the tea leaves. The cooler teapot will help lower the water temperature to protect the delicate tea leaves.

Brewing with Filters

For those of you who find tea bags easier to deal with but only have access to your favourite teas in the form of loose leaf tea, filters are a great option:

1. Choose your filters: We have you sorted with our paper filters which can be recycled after use.
2. Measure your tea: Place one teaspoon of loose leaf tea into the filter bag.
3. Heat the water: Follow the same guidelines for water temperature here.
4. Steep the tea: Place the filter with the tea into a cup or mug, pour hot water over it, and let it steep according to the type of tea.
5. Dispose and enjoy: Once the tea has steeped, remove the filter, recycle, and enjoy your tea.

Variety

At Shibui, we offer an extensive range of teas. We have over 30 different flavours in our tea bag range, while we have over 75 different teas and infusions in our loose leaf range. That is a lot of flavours to choose from right? Below is a list of the various types of tea we have on offer.

• Black Tea: Bold and robust, with your classic Breakfast tea, and Earl Grey tea and an extensive selection of flavoured black teas. We also have a wide range of black teas from all over the world displayed in our Around the World Black Tea collection.

• Oolong Tea: A balance between black and green teas with an earthy yet complex flavour.

• Green Tea: A range of refreshing light teas, all diverse in flavour.

• White Tea: Delicate and subtle, with a light and slightly sweet taste.

• Pu-erh Tea: A unique, aged tea known for its rich, earthy flavour and smooth finish.

• Herbal Infusions: Caffeine-free options made from herbs, flowers, and fruits. We have some very unique flavours like our very own Chocolate & Ginger tea.

• Fruit Infusions: Vibrant and bursting with natural fruity flavours. These are all also caffeine free.

Read our 'Types of Tea: A User-Friendly Guide' blog for more information about the different types of tea.