10 Best Loose Leaf Teas 2020 [Buying Guide]

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Heather
Patton

Jennifer
Trimbee

Samantha
Dewitt

How to Choose the Best Loose Leaf Tea

One of the best things about tea is that there are so many different types out there. Loose leaf tea is typically more flavorful than tea bags and doesn’t have as much bitterness. If you’ve been meaning to give it a try, you’re in the right place. We researched some of the top-selling, highest-rated products available to put together this review. Before we get started, let’s take a look at some important features to keep in mind.

Flavor: Whether you’re looking for the best organic loose leaf green tea or English Breakfast Tea, there’s a lot of variety here. We even found some great samplers that include everything from chai to herbal teas, too.

Package Size: Some of these products come in large one-pound packages while others come in small tins. If you know you like a flavor, buying in bulk is a good idea but smaller packages are great to try something new.

Pieces: Most of these teas come in single packages but the big exception is the samplers. They include anywhere from 9 to 15 pieces. Sometimes they’re all different flavors, sometimes you get a few of each one.

Type: We included both caffeinated and herbal teas in our reviews as well as one unique tea that’s both herbal and caffeinated. Herbal teas are particularly nice when cold brewed while caffeinated teas are a great alternative for coffee.

Organic: Most of these products are made using organic tea leaves, fruits, and herbs. They’re sourced from all over the world, too, so you get the best-tasting tea right from the regions where they grow naturally.

Package Type: Bulk loose tea usually comes in large resealable bags, some are even lined with foil to help keep them fresh. Samplers and smaller amounts come in tins that are practical and look really nice on display, too.

Top 10 Products

Now that you know a little more about what to look for, let’s move into our best loose leaf tea review. Our top and budget picks are right at the beginning so you’ll see them even if you’re in a hurry. That’s the best way to see the range that’s available but stick around if you can. Whether you’re looking for a great sampler or the best loose leaf green tea brands, we think there’s something here for you. Ready? Let’s go.

Ghograjan Tea Estate Loose Leaf Tea

Our top pick is from one of the best organic loose leaf tea brands. Ghograjan Tea Estate Loose Leaf Tea is strong, aromatic English Breakfast tea that can be served black or with a little bit of milk that’s actually a good substitute for your morning coffee. You can even make it in a French press. It’s made using a 5-step process of plucking, withering, rolling, oxidation, and drying in small batches. The leaves are carefully selected to make sure you’re getting the purest, healthiest tea possible. They’re directly sourced from the same small family farm in India that’s been working with the company for 5 generations. One more thing, Ghograjan also offers a 100% refund if this isn’t the best cup of English Breakfast Tea you’ve ever had.

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Davidson's Gunpowder Green Tea

Next up is our budget pick, a great choice if you’re a fan of green tea. Davidson's Gunpowder Green Tea is USDA certified organic and has a potent, deep flavor and a caffeinated kick. It’s sourced from Wuyuan County in China which is known as the Green Tea Golden Triangle because the altitude and climate are perfect for green tea growth. The leaves are withered, steamed, tightly rolled, and then dried into pellets which results in a mellow flavor with a deep, smoky flavor profile. Use just 1 to 2 teaspoons and steep for 2 to 3 minutes for the perfect cup. This large 16-ounce bag will last a really long time and to make sure it stays as fresh as possible, the paper stand-up pouch has an aluminum foil lining.

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Tea Forté Loose Leaf Tea Sampler

If you’re having a hard time deciding on just one type of tea, take a look at this Tea Forté Loose Leaf Tea Sampler. It includes a variety of different blends, including Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Chamomile Citron, Green Mango, and Ginger Lemongrass. This set contains 3 of each blend. Each one is USDA organic and made using the finest tea leave in the world blended with high-quality fruits, spices, and herbs. The pouches contain enough tea leaves for a 12-ounce cup so you don’t have to worry about measuring anything, simply empty the contents into an infusing basket, pour boiling water it, and steep the perfect cup of tea. This set would make a great gift for any tea lover or for someone who’s just getting started learning about tea.

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Lipton Loose Black Tea

Lipton is one of the most well-known brands when it comes to tea and their Loose Black Tea is up next on our list. They carefully select and fresh-press the tea leaves in order to get as much natural flavor as possible. The result is a rich tasting tea with a deep, intense color and invigorating aroma. Lipton only uses the top leave of the tea plant in order to get the best, most flavorful brews. These tea leaves are 100% Rainforest Alliance certified as well as 100% natural with no added preservatives or coloring. To make the perfect cup you only need a single teaspoon of Lipton Loose Tea. Pour boiling water over and allow it to brew for 3 to 5 minutes. Then, strain, serve and sweeten to taste. This tea is delicious hot or cold.

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Stash Tea Loose Leaf Tea

Stash Tea Loose Leaf Tea is another great choice if you’re in the mood for a delicious English Breakfast tea. This is a great morning pick-me-up and can be served in several different ways. Try it hot, cold, add milk and sugar, or blend in some honey. You can brew this tea in a strainer, infuser, or even a French Press and it even makes a great infusion for sauces, syrups, and baked goods. The large 16-ounce bag will last for a long time. Don’t worry, it’s resealable so your tea leaves stay fresh until you’re ready to use them. Stash Tea has been in the business for a long time. They started way back in 1972 and grew to become one of the largest specialty tea companies in the United States.

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Runa Guayusa Loose Leaf Tea

Next up is Runa Guayusa Loose Leaf Tea, a delicious choice that’s naturally packed with caffeine, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids and is low in tannins so it’s sweet without any bitterness. These leaves are organic, non-GMO, Fair Trade, gluten-free, and Kosher friendly. Guayusa is a unique tea grown in the rainforest because it needs the shade of other plants to fully develop. The growing process is complicated and requires planting new trees from cuttings and waiting up to 3 years for them to reach productivity. Runa gets their leaves from expert farmers then air drys and mills them in a small town in Ecuador. You only need about a spoonful of leaves for every 8-ounce cup of tea. Steep from 4 to 6 minutes or longer to taste.

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Tiesta Tea Immunity Blend

For something a little different, try the Tiesta Tea Immunity Blend. They call it their Fireberry blend and it’s a tangy mix of cranberries, hibiscus flowers, elderberries, currants, rose petals, sweet blackberry leaves, rose hip, and fiery-red rooibos tea. Try it hot, cold, plain, or sweetened with honey or sugar. This package is small and contains only 1.7 ounces of tea but you don’t need to use much. Believe it or not, you’ll get between 15 and 30 eight ounce cups out of this bag, depending on how strong you like your tea. You only need 1.5 teaspoons for every 8 ounces of water. For best results, wait until water reaches 208 degrees F then allow to brew for 5 to 7 minutes. Then, strain out the leaves and enjoy.

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Solstice Loose Leaf Tea Sampler

If you’re looking for a great sampler, take a look at the Solstice Loose Leaf Tea Sampler. This variety pack includes 12 small tins, each with 10 to 12 servings of a different delicious flavor. There’s a nice variety in this sampler, too. You get one tin each of Masala Chai, Peach Tea, Gunpowder Green Tea, Rooibos, Red Fruit Hibiscus, Sencha Green Tea, Irish Breakfast Tea, English Breakfast Tea, Blue Hibiscus, Limoncello Herbal, Earl Grey, and Mirik Darjeeling. This is a nice mix of herbal and fruit teas as well as full, strong flavors. The tins are a nice size and clearly labeled so you always know what you’re getting. If you know someone who loves tea or if you’re trying to branch out but don’t want to invest in a large bag, give this one a go.

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Heavenly Tea Leaves Tea Sampler

One of the best things about a sampler is there’s something for everyone. That’s why we included another great sampler on our list, the Heavenly Tea Leaves Tea Sampler. These loose leaf teas come in small 0.5 to 1-ounce tins with about 10 servings in each one. Flavors include green tea, flavored green tea, black tea, flavored black tea, white tea, herbal tisane, flavored herbal tisane, rooibos herbal tisane, and flavored rooibos herbal tisane. Note that the teas included in this sample may vary depending on season and availability. The tea tins are packaged in a biodegradable box and make a nice gift. This is a great way to try a variety of different teas and find your next favorite blend without having to spend a lot of money.

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The Tao of Tea Loose Leaf Tea

Last up is The Tao of Tea Loose Leaf Tea Hibiscus Ginger. This caffeine-free blend is handcrafted using 100% organic Hibiscus flower petals and dried ginger. The flavor is strong, robust, and uplifting. It’s sweet and tart with a spicy aftertaste. Ginger is really potent and can be overpowering but this blend used just the right amount so it’s a nice compliment to the hibiscus without being overpowering. You can enjoy this tea anytime but it’s especially good when cold brewed and served over ice in hot summer months. It’s delicious on its own but can be mixed with other teas to add a pop of flavor. You only need to use a small amount for each cup so this 3-ounce tin will last a long time.

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About the Author

Heather Patton

Expert Researcher and Writer

Heather Patton is a lead researcher and writer at GeekWrapped. She has been creating high-quality content for over a decade and covers home, lifestyle, beauty, fashion products and more.

Learn more about Heather

Article last updated on:

September 29, 2019

See more reviews:

Best Loose Leaf Teas

Top 10 Buying Guide

Our Recommendations

Ghograjan Tea Estate Loose Leaf Tea

Davidson's Gunpowder Green Tea

How to Choose the Best Loose Leaf Tea

Top 10 Products

Ghograjan Tea Estate Loose Leaf Tea

Davidson's Gunpowder Green Tea

Tea Forté Loose Leaf Tea Sampler

Lipton Loose Black Tea

Stash Tea Loose Leaf Tea

Runa Guayusa Loose Leaf Tea

Tiesta Tea Immunity Blend

Solstice Loose Leaf Tea Sampler

Heavenly Tea Leaves Tea Sampler

The Tao of Tea Loose Leaf Tea

About the Author

TOP PICK

Ghograjan Tea Estate Loose Leaf Tea