10 Best Loose Leaf Teas of 2023 (Tea Sommelier-Reviewed)

Pros:

• High caffeine content
• Extra bergamot oil
• One-pound bag is also available to order
• Bold, citrusy taste
• 60-day return policy

Cons:

• Requires tea infuser or strainer
• Leaves are not whole, which may reduce flavors

The Double Bergamot Early Grey Tea by Stash is the best black tea for those that love bold tastes. It is produced on the Kopili tea plantation in Assam, a state in northeastern India, and has a full, powerful taste. The leaves are infused with extra bergamot oil to enhance the citrus notes. Being a strong black tea, the caffeine content is high, perfect for that morning pick-me-up. 

Some reviewers remark that the flavor of the double bergamot is not as strong as they hoped. However, many other customers find the extra bergamot oil included strengthens the taste and smell of the earl grey tea. This product also offers the option to order a one-pound bag for those that can't get enough of the taste!

Pros:

• About 80 milligrams of caffeine
• Sweet, smooth, complex taste
• 14-day return policy
• Four-ounce bag is also available to order

Cons:

• Leaves are not whole, which may reduce flavor
• Requires tea infuser

Positively Tea Company's Assam TGFOP Tea is the perfect product for caffeine lovers. Black teas produced in Assam, India, the product's namesake, are noted for their strong, bold flavors and have about 80 milligrams of caffeine. This tea is a wonderful breakfast tea, giving you the same energy as coffee without the jitters or crashes. The flavor is smooth, sweet, and complex, a nice change from the bitterness of coffee. 

A few reviewers state that the flavor was not notable and that their packages contain twigs and but no tips. Many other reviewers love the taste of this tea and drink it without milk, cream, or sugar. They also appreciate the 14-day return policy and that it can be purchased in a four-ounce or one-pound bag. 

Pros:

• Resealable bag
• Brews 200 cups
• Four-ounce and one-pound bags are available
• Rolled into pellets to retain freshness and flavor
• 35 to 40 milligrams of caffeine for energy
• Whole leaves for fuller flavor

Cons:

• Not for individuals with common nut and food allergens due to facility processing
• Requires an infuser or strainer

The Gunpowder Green Tea by FGO is the best product for health benefits. Like all green teas, this tea is packed with antioxidants, increases immune health, and promotes a healthy heart. This green tea is rolled into pellets, which retain its freshness, smoky flavor, and health benefits. This brand of tea has more caffeine than other green teas, giving you a natural energy boost.

Some reviewers state that the taste is rather weak and that their tea is full of stems. Despite this, most customers enjoy that the flavor is distinct enough to be an everyday beverage without being overwhelming. The reviewers also love that the resealable bag keeps their tea fresh. 

Pros:

• Available in different quantities on the manufacturer's website
• Light flavor with chocolate undertones
• Resealable, recyclable packaging
• High antioxidant levels
• Whole leaves for fuller flavor

Cons:

• Low caffeine content
• Requires infuser or strainer

Davidson's White Peony Tea is the best white tea for sweet, nutty flavor enthusiasts. This tea, like all white teas, has a light flavor but this tea also possesses a unique chocolate undertone that can be appreciated by advanced tea drinkers and novices. This tea also has high antioxidant levels and other health benefits like green teas. 

Because the bud and first two leaves of the plant are harvested to make white peony tea, you may often find broken leaves in the middle and bottoms of their bags. Despite this, many reviewers love the sweet, mild, nutty taste of this tea and appreciate that they can purchase it by the pound.

Pros:

• Beautiful tin container
  
• Whole leaf for full flavor profile
  
• Toasted aroma with a sweet, strong aftertaste 
  
• One teaspoon can be steeped twice 
  
• Whole leaves for fuller flavor

Cons:

• 40 percent oxidation makes tea darker with more caffeine content
• Requires tea infuser or strainer

This tea is the perfect product for oolong enthusiasts, as the leaves were grown in the Anxi District of Fujian, China, which is famous for the tea. The 40 percent oxidation of this product makes it dark with medium-high caffeine content and it has a toasted aroma and a sweet, powerful grainy taste. The whole leaves are rolled into pellets to preserve their taste and freshness and can be steeped more than once. 

Some reviewers say that the tea does not have enough notes of green tea in it and that the flavor was too subtle. However, many reviewers prefer the complex tastes in each cup and point out a vast number of different undertones in the tea: nutty, buttery, chocolate, grassy, and more. Customers also love the beautiful tin container. 

Pros:

• Rich in antioxidants and flavonoids
  
• Sweet, floral, mellow flavor
  
• Includes decorative zipper bag to contain tea
• Company donates one percent of sales to charity 
• Whole leaves for fuller flavor

Cons:

• Low caffeine content
• Requires infuser or strainer

Vadham Imperial Himalayan White Tea is best for tea connoisseurs that appreciate subtle flavors. Harvested in autumn from the foothills of the Himalayas, this tea is very lightly oxidized to create its incredibly sophisticated taste. Each cup has a sweet, mellow floral flavor and is bursting with antioxidants and flavonoids.   

Some reviewers state that they received dry, brittle leaves and that the notes of flavor were not as strong as they had hoped. Many other reviewers enjoy the tea's light color and floral, fruity taste. They also love the beautiful resealable packaging and that a percentage of the company's profits goes into the education of children in India.

Pros:

• Scented with real jasmine flowers
• Resealable packaging
• Whole leaves for fuller flavor
• Medium caffeine content

Cons:

• Requires tea infuser or strainer
• No return policy

Numi's Organic Jasmine Green Tea is the best product for floral tea lovers. The tea is grown in Hunan Province, China. This province has rich soil and ever-changing daily temperatures which produce this smooth, fragrant product. Then, the jasmine flowers are laid over the leaves three times so the tea picks up the flower's scent and flavor. The whole leaf is included for a fuller flavor profile. 

A few reviewers state that the jasmine flavor is not as strong as they would like or that it is chemically produced. Many other reviewers love the subtlety of the jasmine's taste and fragrance infused with the green tea. They also love the medium caffeine content - great for a small energy boost!

Pros:

• Whole chunks of spices for full flavor
• 110+ cups of tea
  
• Refundable through manufacturer
• High caffeine content
• Ceylon black tea and spices all sourced from Sri Lanka

Cons:

• Leaves are not whole, which may reduce flavor
• Requires tea infuser or strainer

This Masala Chai Tea is the best tea blend for spice lovers. Whole chunks of cardamom, ginger, black pepper, and cinnamon are mixed in with the leaves, creating a potent, spicy mix. You can even use this tea to homebrew your own chai lattes! This full-bodied, brisk tea is grown in Sri Lanka and is also called Ceylon tea. Each cup contains about 50 milligrams of caffeine, but the caffeine level can increase depending on steeping time.

Some reviewers say that the flavor of the black tea overpowers the spices. Most are satisfied with the spices' flavor and remark that the loose leaf tea is better than the chai teas and lattes made in coffee shops. They also thoroughly enjoy the high caffeine content of this blend.

Pros:

• Includes three different samples of oolong, black tea, green, and pu-erh tea each
• Whole tea leaves for fuller flavor
• Comes in reusable tins
• Medium to high caffeine content
• Makes 250 cups of tea

Cons:

• No white teas included
• Requires tea infuser or strainer

Solstice Tea Company's Favorites Tea Sampler is the best option for people who are new to loose leaf teas. The set includes three varieties of oolong, black, green, and pu-erh tea. Some teas are whole leaves rolled into pellets, which provides a fuller flavor profile than cut or broken leaves. The only additive is vanilla extract, so drinkers can appreciate the taste of each tea without other herbs or spices. 

Some reviewers remark that the black teas are not that different from store-brand black teas and that the green teas have better flavor. However, most customers love the distinct flavors of each tea, and that the reusable tins that they are packaged in make this set a wonderful gift for loved ones as well.

Pros:

• Seven blends
• Has a range of health benefits
• Blends contain floral, smoky, fruity, and citrusy flavors
• Contains green, matcha, and oolong tea
• 30-day return policy

Cons:

• Requires a tea infuser or strainer
  
• Leaves are not whole, which may reduce flavor

Tiesta's Slenderizer Dry Flight Sampler is the best set for green tea lovers who want to explore a range of other flavors. This tea sampler includes seven unique blends with different flavors: smoky, floral, fruity, and citrusy. Each pouch produces six to 10 cups. These teas also improve your health by boosting your metabolism, suppressing your appetite, and providing antioxidants. 

A reviewer notes that, while the green teas taste great, they do not experience any slenderizing effects. Other reviewers find that with a cup a day, they definitely experience extra energy and reduced appetite. They also love the natural ingredients included in each tea and the company's generous 30-day return policy.