Loose-Leaf vs. Tea Bags: Which Is Better + Herbalist Tips

If you consult an herbalist for any type of health concern, the chance they pull out a store-bought tea bag as a remedy is pretty low. It's safe to say that most herbalists utilize loose-leaf teas instead—though anything is possible. Still, this raises the question: Is loose-leaf tea truly superior?

Let's start with the travel-friendly grocery store staple: tea bags. The options in the tea aisle tend to be mainly tea bags (in the U.S., that is), but there's a wide variety within this category. 

You have the pick of the litter, so to speak. From plain green tea to warming vanilla chai and even benefit-first blends that tout sleep support or hormone balance. 

In general, one tea bag has about 1.5 to 3 grams of herbs, Siff says. They tend to be packaged with glue and a staple to secure the herbs within on their journey from the manufacturer to you. Some even come with a little paper tag with an inspirational quote. 

Now on to loose-leaf tea. Making the leap from tea bags to loose-leaf tea can be intimidating—you'll have to build your collection, learn how long to steep your teas for, where to buy your herbs, and so on. 

So, which is better? To be frank, it depends on your goal. If you are drinking tea for the health benefits or the flavor, loose-leaf tea is certainly the best way to go.