Many bagged tea advocates believe that bulk tea costs more than tea in bags. Actually, most good tea is not very expensive and can be very cost effective.
When you buy tea in bags, most of what you pay for is the process of putting the teas in the bags, and the brand name advertising. High quality tea is generally sold loose, and the price per cup is often lower than for commercial bagged tea.
Some fine teas retail in the United States retail for less than US$20 per pound, which means less than 10 cents per cup. When one considers that most loose-leaf varieties support multiple tea infusions the prices drop dramatically.
Fine loose leaf varieties (i.e. green, white, black, oolong, and flavored blends) are typically not available in supermarkets; yet a quality online retailer will offer consumers a wide selection, fast order processing, and the convenience of home delivery.
