Is loose tea really better than tea bags? Some tea connoisseurs will answer a resounding yes; however, others swear by tea bags. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.

The convenience of tea bags is a considerable factor, especially when brewing a cup at work or away from home. Using a tea bag you can enjoy a good cup of tea anywhere hot water or a microwave is to be found. Wrapped, they fit very nicely in the purse and are always handy.

The tea used in tea bags is usually fannings and dust. These are simply smaller particles, but may be broken leaves of excellent quality tea. The smaller, broken particles brew more quickly, because of the greater surface area. Absorption of caffeine and tannins are usually a little greater from a tea bag as well, again due to the smaller particles. This can be an advantage, or not, depending on your tastes.

One major disadvantage of tea bags is that the smaller broken particles used in tea bags tend to go stale more quickly. A whole leave will retain its freshness much longer, so tea bags should not be stored for long term use.

Loose teas come in more varieties, which can be used individually or blended to your own tastes. Most tea bags are blended for a specific flavor. Using loose tea, you can taste the pure flavor of each variety, then blend to your preferences.

Environmentally conscious tea enthusiasts compost their tea leaves, while tea bags are not as environment friendly. This is an additional consideration.

When using loose tea, you can control the quality and freshness of the tea. Some of the tea used in tea bags is of lower quality, but this is true of loose teas as well. I recommend that you judge each brand and method of brewing according to your taste preferences and convenience factors. While there will probably always be a little snobbery surrounding this debate, the main consideration is the enjoyment of a good cup of tea.

For more information on different blends and varieties of tea, visit All About Tea Diane Watkins is an educator, cook and writer. She writes about food and cooking at Easy Southern Cooking.

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