Whole leaf tea

Whole leaf tea refers to loose tea where the leaves are largely intact rather than chopped into small fragments or ground into dust. It sits at the top of a leaf-size scale that runs from whole leaf down through broken leaf to fannings and dust, the last of which fills most standard tea bags.

Larger, less broken leaf pieces have more surface area preserved in a way that releases flavor and aroma gradually rather than all at once, which is a big part of why whole leaf tea often re-steeps well for a second or third infusion while fine dust usually cannot.

When buying, check the product photo or description for leaf size rather than judging by strength alone, since fine fannings can brew a strong-tasting first cup that then flattens out quickly. A common mistake is assuming a more intense first steep automatically means better tea, when whole leaf that steeps a little lighter can still outperform it over multiple infusions.