The Perfect Cup of Loose Leaf Tea

Updated: May 2026

Despite the rise of coffee shops on every high street, the UK remains a nation of tea drinkers. Three quarters of consumers drink at least one cup of tea every day. Black breakfast tea is still the most popular choice, but the range of herbal and fruit teas available has expanded considerably, and more people are now brewing from loose leaf rather than reaching for a box of bags.

Loose leaf vs tea bags

Loose leaf tea gives you more control over the strength and flavour of your brew. You can adjust how much you use, how long you steep it, and whether you go back for a second infusion. Many whole-leaf teas are suited to multiple infusions, making loose leaf better value per cup than bagged equivalents over time. If you’re weighing up the two formats, our post on tea bags vs loose leaf covers the practical comparison in full.

Our guide to brewing loose leaf tea

1. Pick your tea from our loose leaf tea collection and grab an infuser or teapot.
2. Use freshly drawn water — never re-boiled. Fresh water gives a brighter, cleaner flavour.
3. Use the right temperature for your tea. We recommend around 80°C for white and green teas, and just below 100°C for black and herbal teas. Overheating green teas makes them bitter.
4. Allow 3 to 5 minutes to brew, or until you reach your preferred strength.
5. Remove the infuser and enjoy.

One of our most popular loose leaf teas is peppermint — sweet, fresh and naturally caffeine-free, with a clean flavour that works well at any time of day. Our full loose leaf range spans peppermint, ginger, lemongrass, hibiscus, rooibos, chamomile and more, all part of our broader organic herbal tea range. All are Soil Association certified organic throughout.