Last updated: June 2026 Loose leaf green tea is unoxidized Camellia sinensis brewed from whole or lightly broken leaves rather than dust-filled bags — and when it's grown above 5,000 ft, it has no bitterness at all. The...

Iced tea from loose leaf is easier to make than most people expect, and it tastes far better than anything from a bottle or a powdered mix. What matters is the tea you pick and how you brew...

A good cup of black tea isn't complicated, but it's surprisingly easy to get wrong, and most people make the same two or three mistakes without realising. This guide covers what to do, why it matters, and how...

Loose leaf tea makes a better cup than tea bags. The leaves have room to open up, so you get fuller flavour, more antioxidants, and a cleaner finish. Brewing it well takes a few minutes to learn, and...

Cold brew tea has become more and more popular, and it's easy to see why. Steeping tea for several hours in cold water gives a smoother, sweeter drink that's perfect in warm weather, or any time. Unlike hot...

Last updated: August 2026 Black tea isn't naturally bitter. Bitterness comes from steeping too long, water that's too hot, stale leaves, the wrong amount of tea, or a dirty teapot. Fix the brewing and the bitterness goes away....

Last updated: August 2026 A burnt or smoky smell in tea usually isn't a defect. It comes from firing, the high-heat drying step (typically 85 to 125°C) that locks in flavour. Sometimes the smoke is deliberate, as in...