Why loose leaf?
The difference between loose leaf and a standard tea bag comes down to what's inside. Most mass-market tea bags contain tea dust and fannings: the small particles and broken fragments left over after whole-leaf processing. They brew fast, but they sacrifice the complexity, aroma, and character that whole leaves carry.
Loose leaf uses the whole leaf. A larger, intact leaf retains its essential oils and natural flavour compounds, and has room to unfurl fully in the water. The result is a fuller, more aromatic, more layered cup. A delicate green tea tastes like it should: nuanced and alive. A breakfast black has actual depth, not just colour.
Whole leaf is also more economical. A single measure of quality loose leaf can be brewed two or three times, each steep revealing something slightly different.
The T2 standard
Every blend in T2's loose leaf range is made with whole leaf, sourced with minimal breakage from quality tea gardens around the world. Our bespoke blends go through multiple rounds of testing until our head of tea is satisfied. From core favourites and everyday classics to seasonal releases and limited-edition blends, each one is chosen for flavour, character, and quality of leaf.
Sustainably sourced with compostable packaging
T2 is B Corp Certified, first certified in 2020 and re-certified in 2023. 100% of our tea has been sustainably sourced since 2021: every leaf, herb, fruit, and spice across the entire range. Our loose leaf is wrapped in compostable plant-based polybags made from PLA (polylactic acid), a biodegradable bioplastic derived from corn starch. Because a good cup shouldn't cost the planet.
How to brew loose leaf tea
Add one teaspoon or one scoop of loose leaf per 250ml of water to your teapot's strainer or infuser basket. Pour water at the temperature appropriate for the tea type: 80–90°C for green and white teas, 95–100°C for black, rooibos, and herbal teas. Brew for the recommended time, then remove the leaves. Increase steeping time slightly for a second or third infusion.
Using a tea Infuser or strainer
A single-cup infuser or basket strainer works just as well for loose leaf in a mug. Add your leaves, place the infuser in your cup, pour over water at the correct temperature, and steep. Remove before drinking. T2's range of infusers includes basket infusers, mugs with infusers, and individual cup strainers designed for everyday loose leaf brewing.
For loose leaf on the go. Add your leaves to the flask's integrated infuser, pour over water at the right temperature, and steep. When ready, remove or secure the infuser to stop steeping and keep the brew from over-extracting. Your tea stays warm as you move, without losing its character.
A gaiwan is a lidded Chinese brewing bowl traditionally used for oolong, green, and white teas. Small in volume and precise in control, it's designed for multiple short steeps in quick succession. Use the lid to hold back the leaves as you pour, and pay attention to how the flavour shifts from steep to steep. If you want to understand a tea properly, a gaiwan is where to start.
Fill the Teamaker with your loose leaf and pour over water at the correct temperature. Let it steep. When ready, set the Teamaker over your cup and the brewed tea releases cleanly through the base, leaving the leaves behind. No straining, no mess: just a precise, clean cup every time. Particularly good for teas you want to brew consistently.
T2's Jug-a-Lot is built for volume. Add loose leaf to the infuser, brew at double strength with hot water, then top up with cold water or pour over ice directly in the jug.
