Tea is one of the world’s oldest beverages. It has been a dietary staple in a variety of cultures throughout the world for centuries, and it offers both pleasure and, in some cases, health-enhancing properties. Tea comes in a variety of flavors, ranging from sweet to savory and spicy to soothing. In addition to an assortment of flavors, tea also comes in different forms; these include the convenient tea bags with which most people are familiar, as well as loose leaf tea.
Characteristics
Loose leaf tea is not contained within a tea bag. It is simply the uncontained leaves, dried fruits, flower buds and other components of a tea. For example, loose leaf black tea consists of the individual leaves of the Camellia sinensis tea plant; loose leaf herbal tea consists of the individual herbs comprising the blend, such as mint leaves and chamomile flowers. Even teas that are not made with any type of leaf, such as rosebud tea, may sometimes be described as “loose leaf” if they are not sold in a tea bag.
Origin
The first teas were all loose leaf teas from the Camellia sinensis plant. The practice of tea drinking originated in China in 2737 B.C. when, as legend has it, the second emperor, Shen Nung, was delighted by the concoction that resulted when a fresh, green tea leaf blew into his cup of hot water. Subsequent to its discovery, tea was consumed in its loose leaf form for thousands of years. It was only in 1908 that a New York tea importer inadvertently invented the tea bag; he sent his customers loose leaf tea in packaged small silk bags, and they steeped the bags whole.
Types
Virtually every type of tea available may be found in a loose leaf form. Black, green and white teas, which are all made from the antioxidant-rich leaves of the Camellia sinesis plant, are all available in loose leaf form. Assorted herbal teas, which are made with such ingredients as peppermint leaves, rosebuds, chamomile flowers, raspberry leaf, dried currants, and more, are also available in loose leaf form, as are rooibos tea, which is made from the honeybush plant of South Africa, and mate, which is made from the leaves of the yerba mate plant native to South America.
Shopping
Loose leaf teas are sold at some supermarkets and specialty food retailers, health food stores, herbal and nutritional supplement retailers, and various coffee and tea houses. They are typically displayed in large, clear glass canisters and sold by the ounce or pound. Once you determine which type of loose leaf tea you want, as well as the quantity you desire, it is scooped into a separate bag or box, which you take home. It is also possible to find sealed boxes and bags of loose leaf tea for sale at the aforementioned retailers.
Brewing
The easiest way to brew loose leaf tea is with a tea infuser. A tea infuser is a small vessel that fits inside of a tea pot or tea cup. There are many types of tea infusers, ranging from simple, small woven bamboo baskets to stainless steel capsules punctured with numerous holes; infusers are designed to contain the loose leaf tea while allowing hot water to move through it and create a flavorful infusion. Place loose leaf tea in an infuser, and pour hot water over the infuser to brew the tea; depending on the type of tea your are preparing, you should allow the infuser to steep, just as you would a tea bag, for between three and five minutes.
References
- "The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide"; Mary Lou Heiss; 2007
- "Tea Basics: A Quick and Easy Guide"; Wendy Rasmussen, 1998
- 2BASNOB: History of Tea Timeline
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