Guide
Ways to infuse loose tea:
We have listed some of the ways that you can enjoy your loose tea that perhaps you didn't know about. Whether you are new to loose tea or a connoisseur, we want you to be aware of the options out there for you. We know how convenient a tea bag is but we want you to be able to use our tea with the same ease but a greater taste. We, therefore, offer a range of products, whatever your preference:
Glass teapots: These come in various sizes and shapes and are usually accompanied by a stainless steel infuser, in which to place your loose tea, that can be removed in order to create space for other versions of tea, such as flowering tea or for paper T-filters, for example. Those without one are usually for flowering teas. They also come complete with a strainer that sits in the spout of the teapot to catch any loose tea leaves that may have escaped through the infuser. Glass teapots are generally great for impressing with as their transparency allows the delicate colours to be shown, infusing from the beautiful tea.
Mesh infusers: Stainless steel strainers are the most effective for quality and they come in many versions of shapes and sizes to suit whatever you are infusing your tea into. They are simple to use and only require you to place your preferred amount of teaspoons of loose tea into the strainer, close it, place it into your cup or flask, and pour over the boiling water. They act like a normal tea bag would and allow you to leave it in for however long you require and watch the tea delicately infuse. They allow plenty of space for the tea leaves to move around and have larger perforations to allow a better infuse. They are of course, environmentally friendly, easy to clean, reusable and cost-effective.
The importance of water for your tea:
Water is, in fact, greatly responsible for how your tea tastes. Natural water and normal drinking water from your tap both contain dissolved gases and salts, which in turn, affects your water and its taste. Depending on which area you live in, your waters 'hardness' is altered. This is the presence of insoluble compounds such as limescale, that can be found in kettles, for instance. Some water can be affected through pipes and can end up containing traces of copper, lead and chlorine, which again affects how our water tastes. Some people prefer to use bottled water to make their tea with and others just filter, it is all down to preference.
We recommend using filtered water to boil for your tea as it reduces the presence of these substances and therefore produces the best quality flavour for your tea, so you can be satisfied every time.
How to best store your tea:
Store in an airtight container that is away from light, moisture and any strong odours. Do not freeze. Small tea caddies can be a good option to reduce the effects of elements on the taste of your tea.
A small guide to tea types:
White tea: A delicate flavour, these are the youngest leaves, yet are thought to be the most prized tea type to drink. To ensure the correct care is taken, white tea is always handpicked to aid the natural process of drying and withering and make sure that these processes are the only ones that the tea is exposed to. It is picked before the bud is open and the fine, silver hairs on the new bud are what gives this tea its name.
Green tea: Originated from Asia, this is one of the least processed teas and it is always picked when the bud is fully open. It contains high levels of antioxidants, which gives it the ability to boost metabolism and burn fat. Matcha tea is a form of Japanese green tea that is pulverised into a fine powder and is also well known for its wonderful health benefits.
Rooibos tea: Sometimes classically called red-bush tea, this is a naturally caffeine-free, herbal tea. It is native to South Africa and is as common as breakfast tea in England. It is typically drunk with milk in South Africa but works brilliantly without. Leaves are: cut, bruised, aired and watered, before being left to dry and oxidise, bringing out their rusty colour. It holds a uniquely robust flavour with honey-sweet with notes of dried cherries and vanilla, it brews a rich cup, commonly named a 'woody' taste. It is bursting with health benefits and good to include in cakes, biscuits and cocktails.
Oolong: This tea is semi-oxidised and is left to wither but stopped before the process is fully completed. The different types of production areas are what gives oolong its numerous names. Like green tea, it is well known for its multitude of health and wellness benefits.
Black tea: This is the most well-known tea and is drunk all across the world in vast quantities, with the UK being a hub for its large presence. Its plucked leaves are fully oxidised in the process, unlike other teas.
Darjeeling: Known as 'the champagne of teas' this tea has a huge variety of types and is well known for its sweetness, benefiting from the heavy rainfall in its specific place of growth that gives it its name. It is also processed as black, white, green and oolong tea.
Gift Wrapping:
All of our purchased items are delivered to you in luxury packaging. We hand gift wrap every package that leaves our warehouse, to make it personal to you. All of our packaging is 100% recyclable and eco-friendly, even down to the ribbon. We package in the UK and our bespoke boxes are made in the UK from recycled material, reducing our carbon footprint by leaps and bounds. In every box we include an individual positive quote card, especially for you, beautifully tied in our satin ribbon, to spread just a little drop of extra love into your day. A perfect gift for loved ones, or a treat for yourself!