Welcome to my Tea FAQ. After 20 years working with tea — including time as a tea buyer, inventory manager, and educator at English Tealeaves in Parker, Colorado — these are the questions I hear most often. If you have a question that isn’t covered here, send me a note through the Contact page and I’ll answer it personally.

— Michele

What is loose leaf tea, and how is it different from tea bags?

Loose leaf tea is exactly what it sounds like — whole or large pieces of tea leaves, sold unbagged, that you steep directly in hot water and then strain. Many commercial tea bags, by contrast, contain “fannings” or “dust” — the small broken bits left over after processing higher-grade leaves. There are newer “pyramid-shaped” tea bags that do contain higher quality tea leaves.

The difference matters for two reasons. First, whole leaves have more surface area for flavor compounds and essential oils, which means a richer, more complex cup. Second, broken leaves brew faster and release more tannins, which is why bagged tea often tastes flat or bitter. Loose leaf takes a minute longer to prepare, but the cup you get back is worth it.

How much loose leaf tea should I use and how do I brew it?

The fundamentals stay the same across types: heat your water, measure your tea, steep for the right amount of time, then strain. The variables depend on the tea and I have written an entire page just on this subject. 

What are the main types of tea, and how do they differ?

All “true” teas — black, green, white, oolong, and pu-erh — come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The differences between them come from how the leaves are processed after harvest.

• Black tea: fully oxidized leaves. Bold, robust, often malty or fruity. Examples: English Breakfast, Assam, Darjeeling.
• Green tea: unoxidized — the leaves are heated quickly to stop oxidation. Light, grassy, sometimes vegetal. Examples: Sencha, Dragonwell, Matcha.
• White tea: minimally processed, just dried. Delicate, sweet, subtle. Examples: Silver Needle, White Peony.
• Oolong tea: partially oxidized, somewhere between green and black. Wildly variable in flavor — can be floral, creamy, or roasted. Examples: Tieguanyin, Da Hong Pao.
• Pu-erh tea: aged and fermented. Earthy, deep, sometimes funky.
• Herbal & fruit teas (chamomile, peppermint, rooibos, fruit blends) aren’t technically tea at all — they’re infusions made from other plants. They’re caffeine-free and have their own delicious traditions.

Does loose leaf tea have caffeine?

Yes, all true teas contain caffeine, though typically less than coffee. Herbal and fruit teas are typically caffeine-free except for a few herbs such as, among others, yerba mate and guayusa. Caffeine content varies based on leaf variety, growing conditions, water temperature, and steeping time — longer steeps extract more caffeine. If you’re caffeine-sensitive, brew for the shorter end of the recommended range, or switch to herbal blends in the afternoon and evening.

How long does loose leaf tea stay fresh, and how should I store it?

Most loose leaf teas stay at peak flavor for 12–18 months when stored properly. After that, they don’t go bad — they just gradually lose aroma, intensity, and antioxidants.

Tea’s enemies are air, light, moisture, heat, and strong odors. Store your tea:

• In an airtight, opaque container (a tin or sealed jar in a cupboard is ideal). 
• Away from the stove, oven, and dishwasher — heat and steam are tea killers.
• Away from strong-smelling pantry items like coffee, spices, or cleaners — tea absorbs odors quickly.
• Not in the freezer — temperature swings cause condensation, which is worse than slow staleness.
• Green and white teas lose freshness faster than black or oolong. If you buy in larger quantities, decant a working portion into a small jar and seal the rest tightly.

Why does my tea taste bitter, and how can I fix it?

Bitterness almost always comes down to one of three things: water that’s too hot, steeping too long, or too much leaf.

• The most common culprit is over-steeping. Once a tea passes its window — usually 3–5 minutes for black, 1–3 minutes for green — it releases tannins that turn the cup bitter and astringent. Use a timer; it makes a bigger difference than people expect.
  
• The second culprit is water temperature. Green and white teas in particular get bitter when brewed with fully boiling water. Drop the temperature 15–35 degrees and you’ll taste the difference immediately. See my Brewing Page for more details. 
• If you’ve got the time and temperature right and it’s still bitter, try slightly less leaf.

What’s the best loose leaf tea for beginners?

Start with what you’ll enjoy drinking every day, not what’s most impressive. For most newcomers I recommend following these steps:

• Do you mind caffeine? If not, my entire collection is open to you. If you wish to limit your caffeine, take a look at the decaf, herbal and fruit collections.
• Are you a coffee drinker? If so, you might want to take a look at our black and puerh teas.
• Do you like additional flavors in your beverages? If not, stick to any category of tea that does not list additional flavors in the ingredient list. 
• If you do like flavors, what is your favorite? Do you like fruity flavors, nutty flavors, spicy flavors, or something else? I have some in each of these categories that I would love for you to try.
• If you’d like a recommendation tailored to your taste, send me a note through the Contact page. I’m happy to suggest something based on what you already drink and like.

How do you choose which teas to carry at Tea Journeys Colorado?

Every tea on this site is one I’d happily put in my own cup. After 20 years of tasting, sourcing, and teaching about tea, I’ve learned that quality, freshness, and honest sourcing matter more than fancy names or marketing claims.

My selection process is simple:

• I taste every tea before stocking it. If it doesn’t excite me, it doesn’t make the shelf.
• I lean toward smaller producers and trusted suppliers rather than the largest bulk options.
• I balance approachable classics with more unique finds. You’ll see English Breakfast and Earl Grey alongside small-batch signature blends.
• I rotate based on the season and what I’m enjoying — the catalog will continue to grow as I bring in new teas.
• If there’s a specific tea you’d love me to carry, let me know. Customer requests genuinely shape what comes in next.

Where are you based, and where do you ship?

Tea Journeys Colorado is based in Parker, Colorado, just south of Denver. The shop is online only at the moment — there’s no physical storefront — but every order is fulfilled personally by me.

We ship anywhere in the United States. Standard shipping rates apply, and orders of $70 or more ship free. Most orders go out within 1–2 business days.

If you’re local to the Parker / Denver area and would like to arrange in-person pickup, send a note through the Contact page and I’ll work with you.

How many cups of tea can I brew from one of your bags?

The answer to that question depends on the size of the bag. See this Page for more information.

Still have a question?

Tea is endlessly interesting, and these questions barely scratch the surface. If you didn’t find your answer here, please reach out through the Contact page — I’m always happy to talk tea.