Loading
    -
    • -

    • -

First off, welcome! There are a number of reasons why we prefer premium loose leaf tea over tea bags, but they all come back to quality. Though loose leaf teas and teas in bags (particularly the commercial supermarket brand tea bags) originate from the same plant, there are a few factors that influence the quality, taste and longevity of the final tea.


High quality loose teas are made from the Camellia sinensis plant’s finest hand-picked buds, whole tea leaves, large pieces of leaves or a combination of these parts. The time of year and growing conditions greatly affect the quality of tea. When all of these factors are taken into account, much like a fine wine, the tea retains its distinctive flavors and characteristics.
In contrast, the tea found in tea bags usually consist of smaller pieces of tea leaves or tea fannings (also referred to as dusts) which may give a quicker brew, but lack the subtlety and full flavor of the larger loose leaf teas. In fact, most of our loose leaf teas can even be re-steeped yielding multiple cups of flavorful and healthy tea. Tea bags can also release more tannins than loose teas giving a harsher flavor to the tea.


As for quality, generally tea will start to lose flavor after six months and become stale after one year if not stored properly. Here at Everyone’s Cuppa, we recommend using tea storage tins for loose leaf teas; these storage options have an air-tight seal that will keep your premium tea fresher–longer.


Finally, we really love tea so we’ve made it our goal to bring you the finest and best loose leaf teas. Tea bags often contain mixtures of tea, rather than a pure tea that can be consistently enjoyed every time. Our loose leaf teas are always made with larger tea leaves so you can easily see the quality of your final tea blend. Try one of our loose leaf teas and you may never use a tea bag again! Loose leaf teas also allow you to blend flavors and different types of tea easily. You can find quite a variety of delicious flavors like fruits, flowers and spices in our loose teas available at Everyone’s Cuppa!

We at Everyone’s Cuppa have been family owned and operated in Eugene, Oregon since the beginning. We pride ourselves on our hand blended, quality, and organic loose-leaf teas. As a growing small business we know the importance in supporting other local small businesses, that is why many of our ingredients are from local farms here in Oregon. We also research all of the plantations, farms, and distributors that we do business with around the world to ensure they share our core values of sustainability, fair trade, and better living.


Discover Your Next Cuppa!

Often accompanying the “Organic” title for many teas is the socially responsible label, “Fair Trade”. This is a separate certification process, independent of how the product is grown. Fair Trade is based on the assumption that the market price paid to tea growers/laborers is not fair and does not promote sustainable living environments. In this way, Fair Trade is to the local economy and the worker what Organic is to the environment and the plants.


A Fair Trade premium of between $0.50 and $1.50 per kilogram (2.2 lbs) of tea is charged by the grower. In addition, the growers pay a certification fee in order to gain Fair Trade status. These premiums and fees go directly into the pockets of the laborers, towards developing programs at the local level, and towards funding the certification process, the Fair Trade operational structure, and marketing the Fair Trade brand internationally.


Producers must apply for certification through one of several Fair Trade Organizations (FLO, IFAT, NEWS, EFTA, etc.) that require adherence to the following criteria:
1. Fair Labor Conditions: wages, working conditions and living conditions
2. Direct Trade: no middlemen adding unnecessary costs
3. Community Development: investment in services and/or infrastructure to aid the community
4. Environmental Sustainability: agricultural methods that are “healthy”
5. Transparency: free association of workers and farmers and democratic decision-making


Because many tea gardens are small, family affairs without the means to participate in community investment or adhere to extensive bureaucratic documentation and auditing rules, the vast majority of specialty tea producers are not “Fair Trade” certified. In truth, these programs and processes are best suited for the giant tea estates that produce the 97% of global tea supply, which is commodity grade and harvested and processed by machine. In some countries, like Japan, no Fair Trade teas can be found because the tea workers are already paid far above the poverty level. This would be similar to demanding a Fair Trade wine from France.


Because the “Fair Trade” sourcing options are very limited, Everyone’s Cuppa prefers to get involved directly at the source. While we support the ideas behind Fair Trade, we believe that, currently, the best way for us to raise the living and working standards of the growers is to introduce Americans to premium loose leaf teas. Premium teas fetch premium prices and require significant additional human involvement. The result is higher wages, more employment, and better tea for all of us! In addition, we buy all of our teas directly and choose our producing partners based, in part, on their business practices. In fact, many of our premium ingredients come directly from our family farms in the Seychelles Islands. As Eveyrone’s Cuppa continues to grow, our purchases result in meaningful changes in the lives of our producing partners and their employees.