Though they are today by far the most popular method of brewing tea (which a roughly estimated ninety four percent of the market), they did not exist until relatively recently. In 1904, tea merchant Thomas Sullivan, based in New York City, began to ship his teas around the world in silk bags for the sake of comfort. The tea was loose leaf and intended to be removed from the bags by his customers prior to its preparation but when they found it easier to simply steep the bag itself an industry was born.
The original baggies were simply sack shaped lumps made of silk that contained loose leaves. In 1930 the production of paper fiber tea bags began. These tea bags were composed of a blend of wood and vegetable fibers that was heat-sealed for maximum effectiveness. In 1944 the rectangular tea bag shape was invented and the modern tea bag was born.
The tea bag is typically considered an inferior method of brewing by tea connoisseurs and aficionados. They claim it not only reduces the level of control a brewer has over the final product but that the taste is typically milder and less intense due to the evaporation of essential oils and chemicals by the crushing of the leaves. This may be true to an extent, but the quality of tea bags also varies drastically. It is possible (and always preferable), for example, to buy tea bags comprised entirely of whole leaves or large leaf fragments, which would minimize if not eliminate the evaporation. It is also possible to buy empty tea bags to be filled with one's own leaves in one's preferred level of concentration. Finally, it is also possible to buy tea in bags and remove the contents in order to brew them loose leaf style.
The advantages to using tea bags are obvious. Their availability means that they are typically found anywhere and everywhere, especially in places where loose leaf teas are not in the market. Their ubiquitous nature means that teas that would not ordinarily be available in certain parts of the world can now be found under the tea bag format. They come in a portable format which makes them great for travel. They are individually wrapped which means one does not have to prepare tea several times before being satisfied with its level of concentration. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, their ease to prepare means that one can have drinkable tea ready in just a few minutes with little to no hassle or difficulty thus lending themselves to a fast and active lifestyle.
Connoisseurs and tea gourmands will always prefer loose leaf tea. It gives them a level of control and subtle cues that cannot be matched by tea bags. A high quality tea bag, however, will provide a tea that fantastic and will be undistinguishable from a loose leaf brew by the average person. It will also provide all of the nutrients and health benefits that have been traditionally associated with teas in a more comfortable, easy to prepare format.
To learn more about the equipment needed to brew Loose Leaf Tea and how to use it, see out Tea Equipment section
Shop for Loose Tea, Teapots, and Accessories in our Loose Tea Shop
Though they are today by far the most popular method of brewing tea (which a roughly estimated ninety four percent of the market), they did not exist until relatively recently. In 1904, tea merchant Thomas Sullivan, based in New York City, began to ship his teas around the world in silk bags for the sake of comfort. The tea was loose leaf and intended to be removed from the bags by his customers prior to its preparation but when they found it easier to simply steep the bag itself an industry was born.
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