Loose Leaf, Pyramid Sachets, & Paper Bagged Teas

Take a moment with Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea Co. to check out our breakdown of the differences between these three tea varieties for a deeper understanding of their qualities. Make sure to check out the tea brewing guidelines below for how to brew your own perfect cup!

Loose Leaf Tea Qualities

  • Hand picked, hand rolled for quality control. 
  • Whole, unbroken leaves.
  • Contains more essential oils which offer a fuller flavor.
  • Can be steeped several times, depending on the type of tea.
  • Contains higher amounts of polyphenols (a type of antioxidant) and chlorophyll (the cancer fighting compound found in green tea).

Tools to Brew

  • Mesh or stainless steel tea infuser for single serve use. Prevents any unnecessary flavors from plastic or painted enamel tea infusers.
  • Tea pot with mesh or stainless steel infuser.
  • Kettle, either stove top or electric.
  • Filtered water.
  • Teaspoon.
  • Thermometer.
  • Timer.
  • Your favorite mug!

How to Store Loose Leaf Tea

  • Airtight container.
  • Store in cool, dry, dark place.
  • Keep away from sunlight or direct heat.
  • Most loose leaf teas last up to one year, if stored properly.

Pyramid Sachets

  • Mix of whole, unbroken leaves.
  • Pyramid shape allows for even distribution of steeping.
  • Many pyramid teas contain as high quality as loose leaf tea (depending on the vendor). Harney & Sons pyramid tea sachets can be found on our site.
  • Contains a fair amount of essential oils, offering a fuller flavor.
  • Can be steeped several times depending on the type of tea.
  • Easy to travel with.

 

Tools to Brew

  • Kettle, either stove top or electric.
  • Filtered water.
  • Thermometer.
  • Timer.
  • Your favorite mug!

How to Store Pyramid Tea Sachets

  • Airtight container.
  • Store in cool, dry, dark place.
  • Keep away from heat or direct light.
  • Most pyramid teas last up to six months.

Paper Bagged Teas

  • Broken, dusty leaves.
  • Lacks flavor compared to the other varieties.
  • Best for brewing in large batches.
  • Most of the oils are depleted due to the lacking quality.
  • Leaves an aftertaste due to the low quality paper.
  • Easy to travel with.

Tools to Brew

  • Kettle, either stove top or electric.
  • Filtered water.
  • Your favorite mug!

How to Properly Store Paper Bagged Teas

  • Airtight container.
  • Store in cool, dry, dark place.
  • Most paper bagged teas will stay fresh for up to two months.

How to Tell if Your Tea is High Quality

  • Leaves should be whole and unbroken. This means that the leaves were most likely picked by hand and not by machine. 
  • Standard size and shape throughout selection.
  • High quality teas comprise of first bud and leaves.

Tea Times, Temperature, and Amounts (based on 8 oz cup)

  • Black Teas- 1 tsp - 210°- 3- 5 minutes
  • Green Teas- 1.5 tsp - 175° - 1-3 minutes
  • Oolong Teas- 1.5 tsp - 195° - 3-4 minutes
  • White Teas- 1 tsp - 170° - 5-7 minutes
  • Herbal Teas- 2 tsp - 205° - 5 minutes
  • Flavored Teas- 2 tsp - 175° - 2-3 minutes

Fuel Your Adventure® with Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea Co.

Written by Jen Biro