One of the main reasons people opt for organic tea over conventionally grown tea is that organic tea is better for you. While it is true that some pesticides and fertilizers are removed during tea processing, many of these chemicals are water soluble... which means that they are in the leaf structure and they are removed from the tea leaves during steeping.
Greater health benefits
You get more of the goodies that tea is noted for, health benefits! Tea can help prevent certain cancers, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, aid in weight loss, and boost the immune system. Tea brewed by the bag contains fewer of these properties.
Loose tea will always give you a healthier cup, and for best results, it is recommended the leaves are brewed within the first year...6 to 8 months preferred.
Better Aroma And Flavor
Loose leaf will have a nice fresh and clean taste, and depending on the variety may taste sweet, floral, vegetal, malty, or earthy along with many other distinct nuances. Bagged tea will almost always taste bitter, old, stale, fuzzy, and muddy, and will leave you with a funky aroma that doesn't promise much. Bags will add colour to your cup, but not much after that!
More Varieties To Explore
Tea, in general, is broken into four main types, white, green, oolong, and black. Each main classification yields hundreds of varieties since many cultures around the world cultivate and process them. Also realize that a large portion of these varieties are sold in loose form, so that means there is always a new kind to look forward to.
Loose Equals Freshness
A big advantage loose leaf has over bagged tea is the age factor. In order for tea to have good quality, it must be young and fresh. As mentioned, it is recommended that all tea is enjoyed within the first 6 to 8 months of the flush. Even loose leaf can go bad so it is important that you get steeping after your purchase and avoid letting it linger.
Tea is one of the most heavily sprayed crops of synthetic chemicals in the world. The use of these synthetic chemicals can have detrimental impacts on our environment. Scarily, on average, over 95% of sprayed herbicides and 98% of insecticides go beyond what they were originally targeted for. This hits insects, animals, soil, water and the air we breathe with unnecessary toxic chemicals.
Organic tea farming on the other hand refrains from using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to achieve a high yield. Holistic farming practices are adopted that instead use natural animal manure and organic matter to grow healthy, balanced plants. This allows the optimum nutrient profile to develop within the plant that not only benefits the soil for future crops, but also for you when you consume it!
Organic tea for Social Responsibility
While there are some large commercial organic farms, the majority of organic tea comes from small farms that support families in small communities. Workers are treated ethically because of the higher price paid for organic goods: this more often than not gets passed on to employees. Rather than being exposed to harmful chemicals, these farmers work with the natural environment and enjoy the benefits of working in a clean, pure place.