I love drinking tea. I like to buy tea leaves and use my tea maker from Teavanna which uses loose tea leaves. I LOVE Teavanna's teas, but they can be a bit pricey. My question, where can I buy tea leaves for a better price that are as good as Teavanna's teas. Thanks!
I've been looking at Teavanna and want to try a few, but their prices are a bit up there so I can't say anything about a direct comparison.
I got a few samplers from The Tea Spot and they are good.
I tried their Earl of Grey (a derivation of Earl Grey) and I love it!
Here in Mn, a the big Mpls Farmers Market, you used to be able to get Mrs Kellys (a local company). Then a local grocery store chain carried it (Byerlys), now only online??
But my teenager is a tea-freak. She likes all sorts of flavors and wants to try new stuff all the time. We have a whole cabinet of tea bags and now her loose teas. I love tea, but am pickier and prefer bags.
For christmas I got her some Mrs Kellys special "Holiday Tea" flavor..and they had a special "sampler" with 10 or 12 small bags of loose tea in different flavors..the ones they were doing that day/week that I ordered. Things like pear green tea...strawberry banana tea???, all sorts of varietys/flavors. She liked that better than the Holiday Tea I set out to get her!
I thought I would pass along a favorite place of mine. They have locations in Elmhurst and Wheaton. Check them out!
Health food stores, Organic Stores, Indian\Asian Food Stores (got to watch how they package it though, they have less food regulations there) I love my Teavanna tea maker, however my husband likes the "fuzz on your teeth super strength boiled down in milk" kind that comes with the bud and flowers as well, its too strong for my taste but I normally get his from asian stores. Have not had good luck with online kinds, usually are not top quality and if your looking for less costly its only going to hurt in the quality department.
You can try www.starwest-botanicals.com. I don't know how their prices compare to Teavana, but they use very high quality leaves. At one point in my life, I was going to open up a tea house. Starwest sent me samples of their tea, and it was phenomenal.
You can also buy high quality tea leaves from an Asian grocery store and add herbs, fruit, or juice to make your own blend. This is probably the cheapest route. Good luck!
I am British, we know our tea! We mainly use tea bags, PG tips are good, from the British section in Kroger, or a British store will carry Glengettie, which is also very nice. Tea bags are much easier.
We purchase our teas from a local store that specializes in all sorts of top end foods. They actually have a tea bar, with a tea expert.
There have also been a few tea stores associated with coffee shops that sell their teas. Because they sell so much they keep very fresh stock..
Also Asian markets sell teas.
We found one place in of all places Fredricksburg, Texas, that has excellent teas.. His Lady Grey mixture is divine.
I would think up in IL there are places that specialize. I would google it.
http://fredericksburg-coffee.com/ The Lady Grey is magical..
It really depends on what you like. I've gotten loose tea at Asian markets that are very good, but there isn't a lot of variety usually. Other than that I usually go to a local tea shop and buy it there. I like to try it first, so I just buy a cup and then get loose tea of what I like. Google for a tea shop in your area. I've never had Teavanna's teas, but other online brands I've tried I haven't liked.
Teavana is delicious, especially their green tea and herbal blends, but yes, expensive. I would go to a high end supermarket like Kings or Whole Foods. They will have a great selection. I think Yogi makes good tea and Republic of Tea is really good.
uptontea.com
but teavana is having a year end clearance right now....
Online. Just buy small amounts to start with because you just don't know the quality until you get it.
I wish I could give you links but I am going through some green tea a friend brought back for me so it will be a while before I buy again.
Go to Teadog.com - I buy all my teas there!
I personally like Twinings teas. You can order them online or find them at some stores. The loose leaf teas are fewer in selection but are pretty decently priced.
I don't know how the tea compares price-wise but you could try Stash Teas.
Do you have any ethnic stores around, especially Middle Eastern? They carry delicious loose teas, usually the Ahmad brand. My favorite is the black tea with cardamon.
Asian stores will carry very nice Green teas and Oolong loose leaf teas. Choose a young or spring leaf for the green tea to make a soft, aromatic and pleasant tea. Older green teas are bitter. I usually just use Costco's green tea...it's the best on the market for the price.
Also, check out a Teaopia store if you have on in a mall.
And, stop by any good local coffee shop. Most carry loose leaf teas. Even their bagged ones are good, like Numi.
I agree, go online.
