Loose Leaf or Tea Bags? Here's How I'd Choose

I get this question a lot, usually from someone standing in front of our range trying to decide, so let me just walk through how I actually think about it myself.

Most of us grew up with tea just being tea, the pot on the stove, my amma or achchi making it without measuring anything, just knowing. But as we've grown Lakdiva, this comes up constantly, especially from younger customers who didn't really grow up making tea from scratch. So here's the honest answer, no sales pitch, just what I'd actually tell you.

Loose leaf, if you've got the time

Our loose leaf range, the Premium Ceylon Tea, Pearl of Ocean, Earl Grey, Green Tea, gives you more control. You decide how much leaf, how long it steeps, and honestly you get a fuller, more layered cup out of it. This is the one I'd reach for on a slow morning, when making tea is part of the moment and not just something to get through. There's something satisfying about measuring it out and watching the colour come through as it steeps, if you've got a few extra minutes, it's worth it.

Tea bags, when you genuinely don't

Our tea bag range, also uses the exact same Ceylon black tea base as the loose leaf, just pre-portioned so you're not thinking about measurements at 7am before work. Sealed in foil so the quality doesn't drop just because it's convenient. This is what's in my own desk drawer at the office, if I'm honest. Loose leaf at home, bags when I'm out.

A quick word on the coffee and spices too

If you haven't tried it yet, our Ceylon Spice Coffee is worth a mention here too, same idea as our Masala Chai but for coffee drinkers, warming and full of the spices we grew up with. Not everyone in your house is a tea person, and that's fine, we make sure there's something for that too.

So which should you actually go for?

If tea is a proper part of your morning routine and you enjoy the process, loose leaf, start with the Premium Ceylon Tea if you're not sure where to begin. If you're rushing out the door or want something guests can serve themselves without instruction, tea bags, Ginger or Lemon are the easiest entry points if you're new to flavoured tea. And if you already know you love chai, our Masala Chai in loose leaf form is genuinely one of my favourite things we make.

One thing worth being upfront about

Tea bags, ours included, use a finer, more broken grade of tea, sometimes called fannings or dust in the industry. I know how that sounds, but it's not a downgrade, it's just a different job. Smaller tea particles infuse faster and more evenly in that small bag, which is exactly what makes a tea bag convenient in the first place. If we used full whole leaves in a tea bag, you'd end up with a weak, underbrewed cup, the water just wouldn't reach it properly in the time you've got.

Our loose leaf teas use larger, whole leaf grades because they've got the room and the time to open up slowly in a pot or infuser. Different formats, different grades, both done properly. Neither one is the lesser version of the other, they're just built for different moments in your day.

Whatever you go with, loose leaf or bags, tea or coffee, it's the same standard on our end. Packed fresh, nothing cut with anything else, straight from what we know.

If you're not sure where to start, just message us, happy to point you in the right direction.