Tea comes in many different varieties and has been a primary drink in many cultures throughout the ages, but it’s only only in the last century, or so, that tea bags were introduced to aid in being able to quickly brew a cup of tea and make it fast and easy to clean up.
The majority of tea bags have strings attached for easy removal from the tea pot or tea cut and are designed to hold the tea vertically suspended in the hot water to steep thoroughly so that the most flavor possible is released from the tea leaf.
A tea bag that is poorly designed will keep the leaves so tightly bound together that the water cannot flow through and around the tea and allow the flavor to fully release, which will result in a cup of tea that is mostly flavorless.
herbal tea
For some who are true herbal tea lovers, there are concerns about any mass manufactured tea because such tea bags are said to be filled with the poorest quality of tea from a batch and contain the smallest pieces of broken leaves and even dust of the leaves, sometimes called floor sweepings.
Teas of this quality release the tannin faster resulting in a final cup of tea with a harsh and bitter taste, rather the a rich smooth flavor which is preferred. Another reason for manufacturers to use the small, broken tea leaf is because a tea in such a condition takes less time to brew, which seems to appeal to the consumer who is always in a rush and impatient for things like steeping time.
With that in mind, it is interesting that in the marketplace, tea bags are often perceived as being the more high-end product. However, it is the convenience, not the taste that stands out.
iced tea
While loose tea leaves enjoy a wide base of loyal consumers, who mostly consider themselves tea connoisseurs, the tea bags are marketed more toward the professionals and middle and upper middle class who prefer the convenience over the taste.
However, a good compromise is developing because more of the gourmet tea companies are finding ways to bring handmade gourmet tea bags into the market that allow for proper steeping, are filled with good quality tea leaves, and offer a whole new experience in flavors for afternoon tea drinkers, both in the quality of the taste and in the variety of blends that can be enjoyed at the gourmet level.
afternoon tea
One of the newer developments for delivering a better quality cup of coffee and tea, has been bags that are triangular in shape, as opposed to the common square variety and the less common round bag. The triangular shape allows for packing larger tea leaves and also including flowers which are common to many herbal tea blends and this shape also is said to allow for a better flow of water around the leaves and resulting in a better brew.
For some tea enthusiasts, part of the whole tea drinking experience is the ritual of handling and interacting with the leaves, so even with improvements in tea bags, these are the folks who will probably always prefer the control they enjoy in the tea making process by using an infuser and loose leaves in order to brew their teas.
