The ideal tea is loose leaf. If you don't have the option of loose leaf tea, look for something that isn't in a paper tea pouch. A cloth bag is best. Sometimes paper pouches are treated with a chemical to prevent tearing. Ingesting that chemical over a lifetime can be detrimental to your health. Organic teas typically don't have that chemically treated pouch.
Expect to pay a little more for quality. Look for a reputable source for your tea. Black tea has more time to absorb heavy metals during the growth process. Green tea, white tea and fruit teas are a smarter choice.
Don't let your tea steep longer than three minutes.
Listen in as chef Abbie Gellman talks tea.
Listen in as chef Abbie Gellman talks tea.
Abbie Gellman, MS, RD, is a professionally-trained chef and Registered Dietitian. Abbie has over 10 years of hospitality and food and beverage consulting experience and nearly 10 years of nutrition-related experience.