Starting A Tea Journey

Which loose leaf tea is right for you? 

The most common varieties of loose leaf tea is black, green, oolong and white. All loose leaf tea comes from the Camellia sinensis shrub. The difference in each is the result of the manufacturing process.

Black tea is 100% oxidized.

Green tea is pan-fired or steamed depending on what the tea master is producing.

Oolong tea is a semi-oxidized loose leaf tea and it can be light green in appearance or dark and almost black in appearance. It all depends on when the oxidation process was stopped.

The least manufactured variety of loose leaf is White tea.   

With so many varieties, you may have to try many before finding the one you really like along with the benefits you're looking for. 

Are you looking for: 

• A strong and full-bodied tea. Shop our black teas, they have all the pick-up you need with less caffeine than a cup of coffee. 
• A non-caffeinated pick-me up. Shop our non-caffeinated tea options.  
• A green tea with a mellow sweet note. Shop our darjeeling premium green tea. 
• A green tea with more of a vegetal note. Shop our China and Japan green tea. 
• A semi-oxidized oolong tea. Shop our variety of light and dark oolong. 
• A white tea that is the least manufactured. Shop our white tea, they can be airy and light on the palate. 
• A light and delicate jasmine tea. Shop our jasmine tea, they are calming and soothing to the soul. 
• An herbal tea because it is naturally non-caffeinated with many healthy benefits. Shop our wide selection of herbal & wellness tea. 

Black tea can vary in strength but most do provide a nice pick-me-up with less caffeine than a cup of coffee. They are full of polyphenols and antioxidants that can help protect your cells from DNA damage. 

Earl Grey loose leaf tea is a popular black tea blend flavored with oil of bergamot. It can can perk you up and keep you active through the day. Earl Grey Créme is our most popular earl grey blend with vanilla and blue corn flowers.

Smokey loose leaf tea is a good choice for coffee drinkers. The flavor ranges from a subtle smokey flavor to a very earthy and smokey flavor. They are a good digestive after a heavy meal and help lower (LDL) cholesterol.  Pu'erh Tuo Cha is a popular compressed form of Pu'erh. 

Green tea is one of the most popular loose leaf teas. It can boosts your immune system to help your burn fat and rich with antioxidants. Loose leaf green tea can vary in taste. Some have a sweet and mellow note while others can have a more grassy and vegetal note. A loose leaf tea grown in the shade such as, Gyokuro, has increased levels of chlorophyll. 

Oolong teas can sharpen thinking skills, improve mental alertness, prevent tooth decay, osteoporosis, and heart disease. 

White tea is the least oxidized and the mildest in flavor. It has anti-aging properties which help in maintaining good health, wrinkle-free skin and can protect your skin from the harmful effects of UV rays. 

Jasmine tea has wonderful calming and relaxing effects on the body. It reduces the risk of a heart attack, strengthens your immune system, and can lower your cholesterol levels. 

Rooibos loose leaf tea is naturally non-caffeinated with plenty of antioxidants.  Rich with polyphenols that have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimutagenic properties. Rooibos can also help alleviate seasonal allergy symptoms. 

All loose leaf tea contains some caffeine but significantly less amounts caffeine than coffee. With green tea, the level of caffeine depends on where the tea was grown and how it was manufactured.  Shade-grown green tea provide more nutrients and have more caffeine than a green tea that is pan-fired or steamed. The pan-fired method is when the leaves are fired in a large wok. This is done by hand, is more labor intensive, and more expensive than steaming which is done using machines. 

If you're starting this journey with tea to decrease the caffeine in your daily routine and fuel your body with goodness, then tea is the cuppa choice. 

Enjoy your time with tea! 

*Tip - You can also reduce the level of caffeine even more by steeping the tea leaves for 30 seconds. Next, throw away that first liquor and re-infuse according to the steeping instructions.*