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For folks who want to experience the true flavor gourmet tea has to offer, the best method is to use loose leaf tea instead of ordinary tea bags. You will also obtain better health benefits from whole brewed tea as well! On this page we will explore why.
First, let us get a better understanding of the grades of tea. We will see what loose leaf teas are better than others, and also find out what really goes in those tea bags.
The Grades Of Tea
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Tea is not graded by actual taste, but instead by leaf size and texture. Below is a list of common grading terms...
So those are your basic grades of tea. But wait! I almost forgot to mention what is found in those tea bags.
Well, you might have noticed I quoted the word "good" above when referring to the (BOP) grading of tea going in tea bags. This is because there are even lower grades of tea that are found in them.
What ever is left over after the "(P)" grading is what makes its way into most tea bags.
These particles of tea are called "fannings" or "tea dust", and are literally the bottom of the barrel when it comes to tea! They might add color to your cup, but you will not experience gourmet tea flavor! I promise you that.
This is due to the fact that they have been broken up so much, all the natural oils have left the leaves and dried up, leaving little room for flavor. Plus, they sit in these bags for months on supermarket shelves before you purchase them, letting even more time go by.
Finding Gourmet Tea
Not all tea merhcants on the net have the same product. It can be hit or miss. Two good tea merchants that sell quality loose teas are both Golden Moon Tea and Adagio Teas. These online shops offer a nice selection of teas, and are great for newcomers starting their journey. They are also favored by seasoned drinkers as well! In fact, Golden Moon Tea has won awards from the 2007 World Tea Expo!
Golden Moon Tea - Awarding Winning Tea
Gourmet Loose Tea From Adagio Teas
Another way to compare gourmet loose leaf tea to tea bags is this...
Starbucks brand coffee is much better than instant coffee found in those plastic jars! Right? The instant stuff being those tea bags. Same goes for loose leaf vs. tea bag!
When you view the grading system of gourmet tea above and travel down the list, it suddenly dawns on you that there is a whole other side to tea then those bags huh?
And last but not least, gourmet tea is a much healthier brew than the brew offered by tea bags. So if drinking tea for your health is important...go for the loose stuff!
Also see...
White Tea vs. Green Tea
Green Tea vs. Black Tea
Benefits of White Tea
Explore Some Common Types of Tea
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