Take a moment with Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea Co. to check out our breakdown of the differences between these three tea varieties for a deeper understanding of their qualities. Make sure to check out the tea brewing guidelines below for how to brew your own perfect cup!
Loose Leaf Tea Qualities
- Hand picked, hand rolled for quality control.
- Whole, unbroken leaves.
- Contains more essential oils which offer a fuller flavor.
- Can be steeped several times, depending on the type of tea.
- Contains higher amounts of polyphenols (a type of antioxidant) and chlorophyll (the cancer fighting compound found in green tea).
Tools to Brew
- Mesh or stainless steel tea infuser for single serve use. Prevents any unnecessary flavors from plastic or painted enamel tea infusers.
- Tea pot with mesh or stainless steel infuser.
- Kettle, either stove top or electric.
- Filtered water.
- Teaspoon.
- Thermometer.
- Timer.
- Your favorite mug!
How to Store Loose Leaf Tea
- Airtight container.
- Store in cool, dry, dark place.
- Keep away from sunlight or direct heat.
- Most loose leaf teas last up to one year, if stored properly.
Pyramid Sachets
- Mix of whole, unbroken leaves.
- Pyramid shape allows for even distribution of steeping.
- Many pyramid teas contain as high quality as loose leaf tea (depending on the vendor). Harney & Sons pyramid tea sachets can be found on our site.
- Contains a fair amount of essential oils, offering a fuller flavor.
- Can be steeped several times depending on the type of tea.
- Easy to travel with.
Tools to Brew
- Kettle, either stove top or electric.
- Filtered water.
- Thermometer.
- Timer.
- Your favorite mug!
How to Store Pyramid Tea Sachets
- Airtight container.
- Store in cool, dry, dark place.
- Keep away from heat or direct light.
- Most pyramid teas last up to six months.
Paper Bagged Teas
- Broken, dusty leaves.
- Lacks flavor compared to the other varieties.
- Best for brewing in large batches.
- Most of the oils are depleted due to the lacking quality.
- Leaves an aftertaste due to the low quality paper.
- Easy to travel with.
Tools to Brew
- Kettle, either stove top or electric.
- Filtered water.
- Your favorite mug!
How to Properly Store Paper Bagged Teas
- Airtight container.
- Store in cool, dry, dark place.
- Most paper bagged teas will stay fresh for up to two months.
How to Tell if Your Tea is High Quality
- Leaves should be whole and unbroken. This means that the leaves were most likely picked by hand and not by machine.
- Standard size and shape throughout selection.
- High quality teas comprise of first bud and leaves.
Tea Times, Temperature, and Amounts (based on 8 oz cup)
- Black Teas- 1 tsp - 210°- 3- 5 minutes
- Green Teas- 1.5 tsp - 175° - 1-3 minutes
- Oolong Teas- 1.5 tsp - 195° - 3-4 minutes
- White Teas- 1 tsp - 170° - 5-7 minutes
- Herbal Teas- 2 tsp - 205° - 5 minutes
- Flavored Teas- 2 tsp - 175° - 2-3 minutes
Fuel Your Adventure® with Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea Co.
