about tea
what is tea?
All tea is derived from the same Camellia sinensis plant. White, green, oolong, and black teas are defined by how the leaf is processed. Oxidation (fermentation process when air gets to the leaf) is a key component in the tea making process. As soon as the leaves are plucked from the bush, oxidation begins. The leaves can then be roasted, steamed, fired, rolled, or aged to determine the type of tea category it will fall into. White teas being the least oxidized following green, oolong, and black tea. Click here to learn more!
where does tea come from?
Tea usually grows between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn, predominantly in warm, wet climates. The big players in the world of tea-growing are India, China, Sri Lanka and Kenya but this is by no means an exhaustive list: tea can be grown in any area with the right climate and conditions.
what are herbal teas and where do they come from?
Herbal "teas" are not really "teas" at all because they don't come from the tea bush (camellia sinensis). Technically speaking herbal teas are called herbal 'infusions', but we're not fussy about it so either is a-ok. There are hundreds of herbal infusion combinations, including berries, flowers, and spices which are grown all over the world.
what is rooibos or red tea?
Rooibos tea, often known as red bush tea or red tea, is derived from a (you guessed it) bushy plant found in the mountainous region of South Africa. Since it’s not from the camellia sinensis plant it’s considered an herbal infusion.
what is yerba mate?
Yerba Mate is harvested from the leaves of a small tree native to Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. It naturally contains caffeine and yet is not tea or coffee. Traditionally it is prepared in a gourd and sipped from a filtered straw. Not everyone has these things kicking around so we have spared the hardware and replaced it with a tea temple to do all the work. This earthy herbal infusion has about 75-80mg of caffeine, which is about the same amount of a cup of coffee (95mg).
why does tea vary so much in taste?
Growing conditions, soil, climate and altitude all make a big difference to the quality of a tea. In addition the process that the leaves go through, and the skill of the people involved, will ultimately decide a tea's taste.
where do teapigs teas come from?
We source our tea and herbs from all around the world, including countries as diverse as Rwanda, Taiwan, China and India.
is tea a diuretic?
Any drink that contains caffeine (either naturally or added) is considered a diuretic, but the effect will depend on how much caffeine is consumed – a few cuppas shouldn’t have a diuretic effect, but lots throughout the day might, and it will vary from person to person.
why do your teas cost so much?
It's fair to say that our teas are more expensive than traditional "supermarket" teas. But it simply comes down to quality; the finest quality whole leaf teas cost more. How could we deliver the exquisite taste of the finest teas from around the world, with all the work that goes into producing it, for only pennies a cup?
what is the caffeine content of teas?
All teas from the camelia sinensis plant (so black, green, white and oolong teas) naturally contain caffeine in varying amounts, depending upon a number of factors - in particular, where it is grown and how it is brewed. Typically, the caffeine content of an average cup of tea will vary from between 30 – 75mg. Most, but not all, herbal teas are naturally caffeine free. You can discover our caffeine free teas here.
why don't teapigs have a decaffeinated tea?
Due to the decaffeinating process they go through, decaf teas can often lack in flavor. So, until Louise cracks that one, and finds us a decaf tea that tastes just as good as our regular everyday brew, we’ll be sticking with naturally caffeine free alternatives. Why not try rooibos – it’s very close in flavor and appearance to black tea, can be drunk with milk or sugar and is naturally caffeine free.
what are flavorings?
We know the word ‘flavorings’ can sound a little suspicious and scary, but never fear – there are no nasties hiding in your tea! We use natural flavorings (like natural oils and extracts derived from the actual ingredients) in some of our teas to round out the flavor and ensure the end brew is just perfect. We only ever use the best quality, all naturally- derived ingredients.
can I drink tea while I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
We would suggest consulting your doctor if you have any concerns about drinking teas or infusions during pregnancy or whilst breast feeding.
how many cups of tea with licorice root can I drink a day?
You may have noticed we have a warning about avoiding excessive consumption on any of our teas that contain more than 10% licorice root- but how many cups is excessive? Some studies on the effect of licorice on the body suggest that it has the potential to increase blood pressure and decrease potassium levels. It is worth noting that the licorice used in these studies is not licorice in its natural form. The licorice we use in our tea is natural licorice root. To be on the safe side though, we recommend that anyone suffering with hypertension (high blood pressure) limits consumption of our licorice & peppermint, fennel & licorice, sweet ginger and trim teas to one cup a day and be sure to follow any advice from your doctor.
are your teas made in a factory that handles nuts?
We have our tea produced in a factory which also produces teas for other brands. Some of the other blends they produce contain nuts. Whilst every precaution is taken to ensure there is no cross-contamination, we believe that we should make you aware of this. The nuts used are almonds and hazelnuts, so we can assure you the factory is a peanut-free zone.
what are the conditions of your growers?
Our teas are sourced from premium, sustainable, well-run tea estates. We’re also a member of the ethical tea partnership who work to ensure tea estates are run fairly and sustainably. You can read about their work here.
are your teas gluten free?
All of our teas are in fact gluten free!
are your teas vegan?
Only one of our teas contain milk product, and that is our rooibos crème caramel.
why does my tea taste so bitter?
Sometimes pouring hot water right off the kettle is a little harsh for more sensitive teas. White, green, and oolong teas are a bit delicate and can’t really handle 200-degree water. We suggest 176-degrees Fahrenheit water and a steep time of 3 minutes to give you a perfect cup every time. If you don’t have an electric kettle with settings or can’t be bothered with a thermometer - bring the kettle to a boil, then let it sit for 5-10 minutes and you’ll have a proper cool down.