Everything You Need to Know About Tea

First, find a trusted tea supplier. At Harrods, we’ve served premium teas for more than 170 years and have a vast and unique selection. Next, find your tea expert. Having so many options can be overwhelming, and we’ve all been guilty of choosing a tea according to its packaging. Talking to a specialist gives you the opportunity to ask questions and get suggestions tailored to you. The final step? Enjoy your tea and the experience of making it. We will offer brewing advice but encourage you to follow your taste, especially when trying a new tea. 

Blending teas is an art – which people train to master. That said, nothing is stopping you from experimenting, especially with pure teas. You might, for instance, try mixing green tea with fresh or dried mint leaves, or a hint of ginger. We wouldn’t recommend adding more than one or two ingredients to your chosen base. Nor would we recommend altering existing blends, which are already carefully balanced in flavour.  

For the finest cup, use whole, loose-leaf tea and store it in an airtight bag or container, out of direct sunlight. Brew your tea in a generously sized teapot as it needs space to expand and release its flavour. Temperature is also vital and certain varieties are more delicate, so always check the instructions. Soft water is best for brewing but if you live in a hard-water area, consider filtering it first. As a rule of thumb, the longer the leaves are infused, the more astringent the brew is. If you over-steep, it can turn bitter – so use a timer. However, large-leaf tea does need more time to extract the flavour due to its larger surface area, so adjust brewing time to the size of your tea leaves. 

Over the years, we’ve established a unique method, sourcing tea directly from the gardens to ensure the quality is exclusive to our customers. We travel across the globe in search of the best produce for the season, accessing teas that are not exposed to the wider market. We taste a wide range, selecting only the varieties that meet our standards for flavour and aroma. We’re mindful of environmental issues, working conditions and ethical practices and the producers we work with can maintain our criteria. It is of the utmost importance to us that we work alongside them to ensure they can not only grow and succeed but sustain the production of premium quality teas. 

We offer a wide selection of loose-leaf teas online, presented in beautifully designed caddies. In-store in the Roastery & Bake Hall, our tea counter features an even larger range, including exclusive and rare varieties available by weight – from Hawaiian black tea to first-flush Darjeeling. 

Loose-leaf tea typically contains larger, whole leaves, which preserve more of the essential oils and flavours, offering a more aromatic and complex cup. The leaves expand during brewing, releasing a fuller range of tastes. Bagged tea, in contrast, often contains smaller, broken leaves or dust, which infuses more quickly but may lack the depth and subtlety of loose-leaf options. Bagged tea is more convenient but doesn't allow the leaves to unfurl fully, limiting flavour complexity.

Tea should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry place, ideally in an airtight container to protect it from light, moisture and air. These factors can degrade the delicate flavours and aromas over time. Avoid storing tea near strong-smelling items, as it can absorb odours, altering its taste. A dedicated tea caddy or container will preserve its quality, especially for loose-leaf varieties, which can be more sensitive to environmental conditions. 

Yes, you can re-steep tea leaves, and this is particularly common with higher-quality teas like oolong or pu-erh. These teas often reveal new flavours with each infusion. The first steep usually extracts the strongest flavour, while the subsequent steeps will highlight more delicate notes. For best results, slightly increase the steeping time with each re-brew, and be mindful of the tea type to ensure you don’t over-extract, which can lead to bitterness.

A strainer is the simplest way to keep leaves out of your cup and to control brewing time, which directly affects flavour. Some teapots have built-in strainers, but if you don’t have one, there are resourceful alternatives. 

A coffee French press works well – just be sure it’s thoroughly cleaned so pesky coffee particles don’t affect the taste. A fine kitchen sieve can also do the job. In a pinch, a slotted spoon can help, though smaller leaves may slip through, so pour your brewed tea slowly and carefully. No tea is worth a scalded hand.

The number of tea bags depends entirely on the size of your teapot – and how strong you like your tea. However, as a rule of thumb: 

Small teapot (2-3 cups or 500ml): 1-2 tea bags Medium teapot (4-5 cups or 1 litre): 2-3 tea bags Large teapot (6-8 cups or 1.5-2 litres): 3-5 tea bags 

Tea, particularly green tea, is packed with antioxidants, such as catechins and flavonoids, which help combat free radicals in the body. These compounds may support cardiovascular health, boost metabolism, and have anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea, in particular, is known for promoting relaxation and mental clarity due to its moderate caffeine content and L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes calm without drowsiness. Herbal teas can also offer benefits, such as chamomile for sleep or peppermint for digestion.