To Buy | Loose Tea

The air in the small boutique was thick with the scent of dried earth, citrus, and flowers. For years, I had reached for the convenience of tea bags, but a recent realization that they often contain lower-quality "fannings" or dust—the leftovers of the tea world—pushed me to seek something more. The Search for Quality

: Reputable sellers, like those found at The Tea Spot , provide clear information on the tea's origin and harvest date. Choosing the Blend loose tea to buy

As I browsed the wall of glass jars, I remembered the advice from Tea Trolley : look for whole or large leaves, not powder. High-quality loose leaf tea needs space to unfurl and expand to release its full, complex flavor, a luxury standard tea bags simply don't allow. The air in the small boutique was thick

: The larger the leaf, the higher the quality and better the flavor. Choosing the Blend As I browsed the wall