Herbal Tea vs Regular Tea

When looking for a cup of "regular tea," what you most likely are looking for is a plain black tea, such as Lipton or another grocery store brand. Did you know there is a whole world of tea beyond the plain, bagged brands we were raised on?

Not only are there several types of black tea, but green tea, oolong tea, puerh tea, white tea, and herbal tea as well. All tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis (italics) plant, except herbal teas which don't contain tea at all! When comparing herbal vs.regular tea, there is so much we could learn! 

Regular Tea vs Loose Leaf Tea 

Let's first start off with the quality of the tea we are steeping. Most tea bags sold in grocery stores are old and the tea itself is leftovers of processed full leaf tea called "dust and fannings" from broken tea leaves. That's not high quality tea. Broken tea leaves have more astringency from tannins making tea more bitter, and lose most of the essential oils and aroma. If you want a truly good (italics) cup of tea, try high quality loose leaf tea. Our collection of loose leaf tea is gathered from farmers we have built a relationship with, and goes through thorough testing before it hits your cup.

If you still want that comforting taste of a regular cup of tea, may I suggest the malty Assam black tea. I find this brew to be like a really good cup of basic tea, no frills. Another favorite is this vanilla English breakfast black tea that holds up well to milk and sweetener. 

For a hearty cup of herbal tea, how about a hazelnut, chestnut, and caramel herbal tea? Or for something more refreshing, this white chocolate peppermint tea makes a lovely cup. While herbal tea doesn't contain tea leaves or the caffeine of a regular cup of tea, the benefit of loose leaf is getting more quality herbs, spices, fruit, and natural flavorings that we use to blend our teas. 

How to Drink Loose Leaf Tea 

You may be overwhelmed by the idea of fixing tea that doesn't come in a bag, but I promise it's simple. I find the process quite meditative. First step is to pick out your blend, do you want a creamy bergamot earl grey black tea or are you more in the mood for something fruity like this peach with just a touch of nuttiness black tea? Once you've chosen your tea, measure one teaspoon of tea for every eight ounces of hot water. Then, follow the directions on your bag for how hot to heat your water and how long you should steep your tea. Allow to steep, then add milk, milk alternative and sweetener as you normally would, though you may want to try a sip plain first to taste the full array of flavors present in each cup. 

You can also cold brew every blend of Plum Deluxe tea from black to herbal by measuring two teaspoons of tea for every eight ounces of cold water, covering, and let steep overnight in the refrigerator. Strain and enjoy! While loose leaf tea has much less astringent tannins than a tea bag, even more are eliminated by using a cold brew method to make iced tea. This is a great way to make tea in larger batches for drinking all day. I really enjoy fruity cold brews. A favorite is this berry echinacea herbal tea. 

Herbal Tea vs Regular Tea 

The main difference between Herbal Tea vs Regular Tea is the presence of the tea plant. Herbal teas don't contain any tea leaves, whereas every type of tea, from white to green to black, is made from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant. The different flavorings come from how the tea is grown, collected, and processed. 

Herbal tea is a wonderful choice for hydrating and relaxing any time of day, whereas the caffeine present in regular tea is best drank earlier in the day so as not to keep you awake at night. For a great night's sleep, try our calming valerian and peppermint herbal tea. 

By choosing loose leaf tea, you are getting more health benefits out of the tea leaves or herbs you are brewing. Whether you choose herbal or regular tea, know that when you choose good quality loose leaf tea, you are getting a better cup from each scoop.