The Best Loose Leaf Teas To Try— & Everything Else You To Brew A Soothing Cup

Perhaps it’s because we may have a little more time to linger in the kitchen, or maybe we’re just looking for moments of calm in a time where things still feel anything but. What is certain, however, is that loose leaf tea is back, baby. (Not that it ever left.)

The calming yin to coffee’s battery acid-like yang, tea has long taken the second spot as people’s caffeinated hot beverage of choice — but no longer does that seem to be the case. As the R29 shopping team’s resident Tea Person, I myself have been relying on savoring the serene steeping of a full-bodied Genmaicha (a Japanese green tea with brown rice) to provide me with a moment of tranquility. While tea bags are great for convenience and easy brewing, loose leaf teas lend themselves to more of a ritual, rather than a mundane routine.

Here, we're presenting you with the beginner's guide to building your own loose leaf tea starter pack. From different varieties to pick up to our go-to methods of brewing, here's the ultimate tea starter pack to help you press pause when you need to...and that's the tea.