7 Loose Leaf Teas Perfect for Your Cast Iron Kettle

Choose the best loose leaf teas and learn to prepare the perfect cup.

Natural Beauty Industry Expert Sara Novak |

Sep 10, 2024

Cast Iron Tea Kettle — Credit: iStock/Knaupe

I love tea. I drink at least two cups a day. And luckily, it’s healthy, especially if you choose the good stuff. Whether you drink tea periodically or you’re an addict like me, this guide will help you find high-quality brands and prepare each cup like a pro.

The Health Benefits of Tea

Just like coffee, tea has been shown to be beneficial in a number of studies. Some research, especially this analysis of 11 studies published in the April 2015 edition of the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, found a link between consumption of tea and a reduction in depression. Following 22,817 participants, the study found that those who consumed three cups of tea daily reduced their risk of depression by 37 percent. Another 2011 study published in Nutrition and Cancer found that green tea, but not black tea, was linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Another analysis of several studies published in the 2015 edition of Archives Gynecology Obstetrics found that green tea, but not black tea, could reduce your relative risk of endometrial cancer by 11 percent.

“I always tell people that are concerned about health more than taste to drink matcha as you are consuming the entire leaf, rather than other styles of loose tea where you are extracting soluble solids from the leaf into the water,” says Tony Gebely, founder of the two-time World Tea Award-winning website, World of Tea.

How to Prepare the Perfect Cup of Tea

There’s an art to tea preparation, according to Gebely.

“It depends on the type of tea, there are six types of tea (green, yellow, white, oolong, black, fermented), each commands slightly different steeping parameters. The desired taste/strength must also be taken into account,” says Gebely. “In general, the more oxidized a tea, the longer and hotter it may be steeped. Green tea produces a palatable cup at lower temperatures and shorter steep times, black tea at higher temps and longer steep times.”

When it comes to tea preparation, a cast iron tea kettle like this one maintains its heat longer so that your tea doesn’t get cold. Good tea preparation requires quality filtered water, tea, and a phenomenal tea kettle.

While the timing may vary depending on the tea, here are the general parameters according to Tea Council of the USA.

For Hot Tea:

• Bring fresh, cold, filtered water to a full boil in a teapot

• Use one teaspoonful of loose tea (five to eight ounces) of water

• Pour the boiling water over the tea (for green tea steep 2-3 minutes in 175 F water and for black tea steep 3-5 minutes in 212 F water)

• If you prefer your tea less strong, add more water after the initial steeping period

7 of the Best Loose Leaf Tea Brands for Your Cast Iron Tea Kettle

Rishi

Rishi is my favorite tea. I started drinking it at a coffee shop and then started to buy it myself. I love the Ancient Golden Yunnan.

2. Song Tea

This is a smaller company out of San Francisco with some great loose tea offerings like Four Seasons Gold Oolong Tea.

3. Crimson Lotus Tea

This is another small company that’s putting out some high-quality tea. They also sell some beautiful handmade teapots. The company, based in Seattle, specializes in puerh tea and tea education, if you want to learn more about what you’re drinking.

4. Tealyra

Tealyra Imperial Golden Monkey Yunnan Black Loose Leaf Tea is a delicious organic choice.

5. Believe Teas

Believe Teas, with their Strawberry Boost Oolong Tea, is a great way to get your day started right. The name is a good indication of what we already know, tea improves your mood and reduces depression.

6. Heavenly Teas