Loose leaf tea brings together whole leaves from the world's great tea gardens in China, Japan, India, Taiwan and Sri Lanka. Shop 300+ loose leaf teas online: larger leaves have room to unfurl, so every cup is fuller, fresher and more aromatic than a tea bag.
Loose Leaf Tea
Total items: 348
About loose leaf tea
Loose leaf tea is whole or large-cut tea leaves sold without a bag. Because the leaves have room to unfurl, it gives a fuller, fresher cup than most tea bags, and many teas can be steeped two or three times. Buying loose leaf tea online lets you choose from far more teas than a store shelf: at Tealyra you can shop more than 300 loose leaf teas by type, flavor and origin, in a range of pouch sizes, and brew them with an infuser, a teapot or a cup infuser.
Start with a type: black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong tea, pu-erh tea or yellow tea. For caffeine-free options, see herbal tea, rooibos and honeybush.
Not sure where to begin? Our bestsellers and the Tea Finder are good starting points, and tea collections group teas by flavor and occasion, such as Earl Grey, chai and decaf.
New to brewing loose leaf tea? Our tea brewing guide shows the right amount, water temperature and steeping time.
Tea types compared
Not sure where to start? This table compares the main loose leaf tea types by taste, caffeine and brewing.
| Tea type | Taste | Caffeine | Water temp | Steep time | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black tea | Bold, malty, rich | Higher | 95–100°C / 203–212°F | 3–5 min | Breakfast, milk and sugar |
| Green tea | Fresh, grassy, vegetal | Moderate | 75–80°C / 167–176°F | 2–3 min | Light afternoon cup |
| White tea | Delicate, sweet, floral | Low to moderate | 80–85°C / 176–185°F | 3–5 min | Subtle, gentle flavor |
| Oolong tea | Floral to toasty | Moderate | 85–95°C / 185–203°F | 3–5 min | Many re-steeps |
| Pu-erh tea | Earthy, smooth, deep | Moderate to higher | 95–100°C / 203–212°F | 2–4 min | After meals, coffee lovers |
| Matcha | Creamy, umami | Higher | 70–80°C / 158–176°F | Whisk, no steep | Lattes, focused mornings |
| Earl Grey | Black tea with bergamot citrus | Higher | 95–100°C / 203–212°F | 3–5 min | Classic afternoon tea |
| Chai | Spiced, warming | Higher | 95–100°C / 203–212°F | 4–5 min | Chai lattes with milk |
| Rooibos | Sweet, nutty, smooth | None | 95–100°C / 203–212°F | 5–7 min | Evenings, kids |
| Herbal tea | Fruity, floral or minty | None (most blends) | 95–100°C / 203–212°F | 5–7 min | Evenings, iced tea |
Brewing times are a starting point; taste and adjust. Full guide: How to brew loose leaf tea.
Loose leaf tea FAQ
What are the main types of tea?
All true tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. The main types, white, green, yellow, oolong, black and pu-erh, differ in how the leaves are processed, especially how much they are oxidized. Herbal teas, rooibos and honeybush come from other plants.
Why choose loose leaf tea over tea bags?
Loose leaf tea is usually made from whole or larger leaves, which have more room to unfurl and release flavor. It also lets you adjust strength and re-steep many teas.
Which tea type has the most caffeine?
Caffeine varies more by the specific tea and how you brew it than by type. As a rough guide, black tea and matcha tend to be higher, green and white teas moderate, and herbal teas, rooibos and honeybush have none.