Which Tea Is Better – Tea Bags or Loose Leaf
We know that we can’t afford four to five hours for drinking tea like people who enjoy it in Japanese tea ceremony of legendary fame. Then what could be a better way of enjoying a fine cup of tea for the average busy guy who can’t spare more than a few minutes of his time?
The tea bags have come to rescue the person with the target of a few minutes to a great cup. Tea bags were first introduced by Thomas Sullivan who sampled different teas by enclosing them in cloth bags so that his prospective customers could select a tea. The original intention was that customers will open the bags and then prepare the tea as usual.
Perhaps some lazy fellows have tried it otherwise without opening the bag, but by dipping the sample bags in a cup of hot water. This unusual method was soon became popular and became hit as a sensational discovery as it enabled persons to drink the tea to last drop without having any leaves in their mouth.
It’s Not The Bag – It’s The Quality And Freshness
After more than 100 years of introduction of tea bags, the bags and the tea have seen a great change. Finer, stronger and lighter bags are now available. They have to pass through stringent health standards and quality control. Perhaps all changes are not better ones. Many times, the content of bags had suffered in quality.
Some tea bag manufacturers used the left-over tea, called fannings. This scrap of tea leaves is processed to fill thousands of tea bags. As these low quality bags made their way into the end consumer kitchen, he would have to consume a low quality tea for a higher price. It might have been compared to stale tea by some.
Another blow to tea bags came in 1970s when “natural” became the buzz word and products that came from plants were adored by the public. Tea certainly qualifies to be natural. As a result, loose leaf tea was looked on as a superior alternative. And, in many cases it is.
Fine Loose Teas
Hundreds of fine loose leaf teas are imported from various parts of globe. Loose leaf teas from China, India, Japan, and elsewhere can be as pleasing to the connoisseur as a fine wine. The gentle jasmine from China stacks up well against a sweet orange tea from Turkey. Or, one may enjoy an outstanding mint tea from Africa. Our favorite place to buy such quality teas is: Amanzi Tea
Again, tea bags emerged without being a symbol of earlier low quality. Many vendors have evolved from the granola days to combine the high quality of a loose leaf tea with the convenience and other benefits of a bag. Though they often go by the more elegant name of “sachet,” it’s still tea in a bag. But the difference is that the tea is of the utmost quality and is sold fresh. That difference is important.
So, retain your busy lifestyle when you must. But take a few minutes on occasion to celebrate your efforts. Treat yourself to a truly fine cup of tea, and enjoy it without a dozen distractions. You’ve earned it.
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