TEA BY THE BAG OR LOOSE?

Tea bags make the brewing process a simple one, so at first glance it's a practical choice for preparing tea. On the other hand, loose tea offers high quality and the pleasure of smelling and seeing better the leaves from which you will prepare your favourite drink.

So... envelope or bulk?

Whether it is consumed to treat or cure certain health problems, to shed extra pounds or to relax, tea remains the second most consumed beverage in the world, quantitatively, after water. Today, there are numerous types of teas with a wide range of flavours on the market, which have benefits in different branches of health. However, the same cannot be said of teas in teabags, which are promoted by manufacturers as sources of health without actually showing the hidden dangers.
If in the case of loose tea available in the form of leaves, flowers, coarsely chopped pieces, the medicinal properties of the plant, as well as its aroma, are maintained intact, here is that in the case of tea in sachets, the situation is completely different. Thus, in order to be packaged in sachets, the plants require very fine grinding, in some cases even to a very fine powder. Such a process increases the plants' surface area in contact with light, which causes oxygen in the atmosphere to lead to a much faster degradation of antioxidants (catechins) and other nutrients.
Moreover, the envelopes used to package the plant absorb the antioxidants present in the tea, releasing dangerous substances once they come into contact with hot water. That said, the only advantage of tea in a bag is the ease with which it can be prepared.
Many packaged teas, advertised as healthy, actually contain pesticides, toxins, artificial ingredients, flavours and genetically modified organisms. More than 91% of the teabags tested have been shown to contain levels of pesticides exceeding the limit allowed by health authorities. Equally worrying is the fact that carcinogenic and toxic substances (propachlor, propargite) have been found among the ingredients of the teabags.
Loose tea may be available in the form of leaves, flowers, coarsely chopped pieces. This keeps the medicinal properties of the tea intact, but also its flavour for a longer period of time than tea packed in sachets. Another advantage of loose herbs is that tea can be made from the same herbs several times, each with a slightly different flavour.
Loose teas are healthier and tastier than bottled teas, but require more effort to prepare.

Here are 5 reasons why you should ditch the tea bags and use loose tea:
- loose tea means high quality;
- loose tea - a great variety that we can enjoy;
- real health benefits;
- Tea leaves bring us closer to nature;
- loose tea can be a great gift.

Tea is more than just a drink, and that's because of the long history and traditions that have formed around it. Once you choose to consume it in its purest form, it can be the start of a passion that will gradually turn into a lifestyle.