Loose Leaf Tea

This is our steeping shelf, 88 listings of whole flowers, leaves and roots sold loose for the teapot rather than the capsule. It ranges from blue, white and red lotus flowers and fermented kanna leaf through the organic European and American tea herbs: passion flower, California poppy, catnip, lemon balm, lavender, chamomile and rose. Botanicals are packed in small batches, our lotus and kanna are lab tested for identity and alkaloid content, and kanna is sourced through South African San Council benefit-sharing partnerships. Loose leaf is the mildest, most traditional way to meet any of these plants. Roots, mushrooms and other whole plants that are not strictly tea are under loose leaf botanicals. The most reordered flower here is the high potency Egyptian water lily.

At a glance

• 88 listings of whole flowers, leaves and roots sold loose for the teapot
• Ranges from blue, white and red lotus flowers and fermented kanna leaf through organic tea herbs: passion flower, California poppy, catnip, lemon balm, lavender, chamomile and rose
• Botanicals packed in small batches
• Lotus and kanna lab tested for identity and alkaloid content
• Kanna sourced through South African San Council benefit-sharing partnerships

The plants. Blue lotus, Nymphaea caerulea, is the Nile water lily with nuciferine and aporphine; white lotus, Nymphaea lotus, is its close relative. Kanna, Sceletium tortuosum, fermented as kougoed, carries mesembrine and mesembrenone in modest amounts as tea. Passion flower, Passiflora incarnata, is a North American vine rich in flavonoids. California poppy, Eschscholzia californica, and catnip, Nepeta cataria, are mild traditional tea herbs, and lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, and lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, are aromatic mints and flowers prized for their volatile oils and flavor.

How to choose.

• Start with the flower that made the category: Blue Lotus Flower, or its softer cousin White Lotus flower.
• For the traditional kanna cup there is the Fermented Kanna Loose Leaf Tea Cut at .25 to 1% total alkaloids.
• Evening blenders build around Organic Passion Flower, Organic California Poppy Loose Leaf Tea and Organic Catnip Loose Leaf Tea.
• For flavor and aroma add Lemon Balm Leaf and Lavender Flower, Organic, which soften the bitterness of almost any herb.

Dosing overview. Standard preparation is one to two teaspoons of dried herb per 8 oz of water just off the boil, covered and steeped five to ten minutes, unless the product page gives its own method. Lotus flowers can be steeped longer or added whole to a bottle of wine in the Egyptian style. Start with a single cup, especially with kanna leaf, and wait an hour before a second. Tea is gentle, but graded kanna leaf still lists its alkaloid range for a reason.

What to expect. Users describe blue lotus tea as floral, slightly bitter and dreamy, kanna tea as earthy and gently lifted, and the passion flower, poppy and catnip cups as a quiet, pleasant wind-down at the end of the day. Lemon balm and lavender are bright and fragrant and mostly there for pleasure. Onset is slow and soft, thirty to sixty minutes, and the taper is just as gentle.

Side effects and cautions. Herbal tea is forgiving, but a very strong cup of lotus or kanna can bring drowsiness, a dry mouth or mild nausea; brew it weaker next time.

• Kanna leaf must not be combined with SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, triptans, tramadol or St. John's Wort
• Lotus should not be combined with alcohol beyond a light traditional infusion or with sedative medications
• Lotus and kanna are not for use if pregnant or nursing and are for adults 21 and over
• With the common tea herbs, consult a professional if pregnant, nursing or on medication

Common questions

• How much loose leaf tea should I use per cup? One to two teaspoons per 8 oz is the standard unless the product page says otherwise.
• Can blue lotus tea be resteeped? Yes, whole flowers give a second, lighter cup.
• Is loose leaf tea stronger than tea bags? Whole flowers and leaves keep more of their oils and constituents than the dust in a bag, so loose leaf is usually more flavorful at the same weight.

Disclaimer. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These are traditional botanicals, and traditional use does not establish that they will produce any particular result. Consult your healthcare provider before use if you take any medication or have a medical condition. Use at your own risk and keep out of reach of children. Formulated by Healing Herbals, run by a practicing herbalist of 13+ years.

More reading: Brewing the Perfect Cup of Wild Dagga Tea, Mastering the Art of Brewing Catnip Tea for Optimal Enjoyment.