In a previous post, Tea Bags to Tea Sachets - Quality and Convenient Green Tea Loose-Leaf - Single-Serving, I mentioned how the term “tea bag” or “tea bags” is synonymous with lower quality tea, usually tea dust. Those green tea retailers selling quality loose-leaf green tea in single-serving packages try to differentiate themselves from the low-quality offerings by calling them “tea sachets”.
As shown in the previous post, here is an example picture of a tea sachet:
Although you want bags that are roomy enough for the green tea to dance and unfurl in the tea filter, the important part is not the tea bag or tea sachet, but the quality of the green tea itself.
Tea Filters
In my opinion, rather than buying loose-leaf green tea pre-packaged in a tea bag (which is usually more costly per ounce), I recommend buying the loose-leaf green tea in 4oz quantities and then when you need the convenience of a tea bag (aka tea sachet or tea filter) while at work or traveling, grab an empty tea bag and fill it yourself.
You need to carefully choose your empty tea bags so that they are made of natural fibers and do not empart any flavor on your green tea nor put any foreign debris or pieces in your tea. I have checked gourmet green tea stores, and the paper tea filters that seem to be recommended and sold most by the green tea stores are the paper tea filters by a German company called Finum:
The Finum tea filters are unbleached, biodegradable, and made of natural fibers. The paper tea filters come in different sizes ( Extra Slim, Medium, and Large ) and you can typically find them from $3 - $5 per box of 100 tea filters, which is a good price. You may want to get the Large size tea filter for display tea that needs to unfurl in the water and will expand while brewing.
The large tea bags will be ideal for the following green tea, although sadly you miss the beautiful unfurling of the green display teas:
Of couse, if you use oversized tea cups like myself as a precaution around my children to eliminate spilling as they bump into my desk and tables, I think the large size tea bags would be great for all loose-leaf tea. I use the large tea filters for even the finer Gyokuro and Sencha Japan Green Tea, although you could get away with the medium size tea filters quite comfortably.
Happy Green Tea Drinking!
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