Which is better: loose leaf tea or tea found in satchels, i.e. Lipton, Luziannne, etc.?!
Answers: Also, are there more antioxidants in loose leaf teas than satchel teas? What's your favorite kind of loose leaf tea?
Loose leaf teas is much better than bagged tea--most commerical bagged teas are made from broken leaves and tea dust from the lowest-quality teas. Loose teas are made from whole leaf tea, and are of a much high quality. You will get a much better flavour.
Also, tea bags (and even small tea infusers) don't allow enough room for the leaves to properly unfurl. Lipton has launched a huge marketing campaign for its "loose leaf bagged tea," but the truth is, it's still not doing itself any favours.
As for the amount of antioxidants, the general rule of thumb is that the more processed the tea, the lower the level of antioxidants. White tea has the most, then green tea. Black tea goes through an extensive roasting and drying process, and has the fewest antioxidants. Since the tea in teabags has been so overly-processed, I would say that it has fewer antioxidants than loose tea (though I've been unable to turn up any actual studies on the subject).
As for my favourite loose teas, I am currently on a rooibos kick (rooibos is African red tea, a robust, caffeine-free herbal also said to be high in antioxidants). Adagio's apricot green is one of my favourites, as is a jasmine mint green I picked up at a local tea store. For black tea, I favour Assam estate teas.
I perfer the loose tea myself. I use less to make a gallon. As far as the benefit's I don't know, but I think drinking something filtered through a paper (the bag) must add chemicals to your body. I mean how was the 'bag' made and what was used in the making? Hope this helps you.
For the true tea connoisseur, it would be loose leaf tea without a doubt. There is more surface area using loose leaf tea with a tea ball or some type of strainer, than with tea packets, allowing more of the tea's body to be released. Depending on the brand of loose leaf, the quality of the tea leaves compared to packaged teas is typically much higher. There are fewer steps involved in the production of loose leaf tea for the consumer, thus less time between when the tea leaf is picked and when it gets packaged, generally making it fresher than tea bags. I'm not quite sure about the antioxidant levels found in both. I'm into sweet loose leaf teas as well as green tea.
Hope this helps. Happy tea making.
I prefer Luzianne and Nestea to Lipton's.
Loose teas are better than bagged teas as they are usually fresher.
UK, Tetley's tea bags are the tops...ask any Brit.
Both are fine. Neither one is "better" than the other one. The reason people drink loose leaf style tea than tea bags is because of flavor. And I have to agree. There definitely is more flavor in loose leaf tea than tea bags. Now satchels usually contain large leaf particles which is certainly better than tea bags which are usually fine particles. So I'd say tea in satchels might taste better than tea bags. Loose leaf tea really gives the leaves room to expand. You'll notice that once you get some quality loose leaf tea. Note that there is loose leaf tea that is not that good, so just know what you are buying. My favorite loose leaf style tea is this green tea called Au Melon which I got at a little tea and herb place near where I live.
I remember seeing on the internet that the antioxidants in tea bags and loose leaf tea was similar, so there really isn't that much difference in that aspect.
EDIT: I thought I'd send you a link to how loose leaf tea really expands. It isn't restricted by a bag or satchel
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa165...
Loose leaf hands down. I like Jasmine green tea, it's excellent either hot or iced! (Nice sweet taste! with no added sugar.)
I think by far loose leaf tea. I do use Luzianne for my ice tea, but..... OHHHH my goodness my favorite tea of all is a Cinnamon Spice tea I get from the tea shop. The flavor and smell make it our families number one comfort thing. When we have a crisis.. we put on the tea kettle and make a pot and then start another big pot of soup. Helps us cope so much :)
lipton
Just like briteyes said that loose leaf tea is usually high quality tea and of course it's more expensive than teabags. For two reasons that loose leaf tea is better than satchel tea: 1. More antioxidants can be found in loose leaf tea. 2. If you see your tea as an art; you will enjoy the fragrance and the appearance that the loose leaf tea brings you. Sit back and relax and enjoy a cup of tea.
http://stores.ebay.com/Taiwan-Eden-Tea
http://www.taiwaneden.com/catalog/index....