HAVE QUESTIONS?
Have Questions?
We have answers!
On Tea
Where does The Loose Teas Café get their teas?
We have over one hundred teas from all over the globe – China, India, Japan, and South Africa just to name a few. Each day, we sample dozens of teas to make sure we provide you with the best tasting teas. Each year, we attend Tea Expositions to sample even more and keep up to date with any type of tea and teaware that our customers might like.
There are so many kinds of tea. How do I choose one?
We know that choosing a tea can be a very intimidating experience, especially if you’re new! Don’t worry though because all you have to do is take it one step at a time. For example, do you want a tea that is more floral or more nutty tasting? Would you rather have a tea that is dark and strong or one that is more light and fruity? Simply pick out your favorite flavors and then choose a corresponding tea! Just let your palette be your guide.
You can also browse through our many informational articles or drop by our store to ask any questions and try our tea samples.
What is the best way to steep tea?
In general, you need 1 teaspoon per 8 ounces of hot water and your tea should be steeped for around 3-5 minutes. However, methods of steeping tea also depend on what kind of tea you are brewing. For example, you will need to use more tea for an herb like Chrysanthemum and you will need to steep any type of Rooibos tea a little longer than you would steep black tea.
We know it may sound confusing so we make sure to provide instructions with every order of loose-leaf tea!
What is the best way to store and steep tea?
The most effective way to keep your loose-leaf teas tasting delicious is to store them in an airtight container, in a cool area away from moisture, sunlight, and other strong smelling scents. It will keep your teas fresh and fragrant.
What is the shelf life of tea?
Depending upon the type of tea you are storing, any quality tea that is stored and preserved the correct way can last up to 1-2 years.
Where can I learn more about tea?
We have organized useful information about tea in our Tea Culture section of our website. Please feel free to browse around and if you have any other questions, feel free to email us or drop by our shop so we can personally answer your questions!
How much caffeine is in tea?
Many factors can alter the amount of caffeine in your cup of tea. The first is what type of tea you use. The more processed and oxidized the leaf is, the higher the caffeine content. In general, black tea typically has the most caffeine and white tea has the least. Water temperature and steeping time can also affect the amount of caffeine released into your cup of tea. To release more caffeine, simply steep your tea at a higher temperature and for a longer amount of time. For less caffeine, use a lower temperature and a shorter amount of time.
The strongest tea is black tea which typically has half the amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. Oolong tea and green tea has half the amount of caffeine as black tea. White tea has half the amount of green tea. Finally, rooibos and herbal teas have no caffeine
For those sensitive to caffeine and want a broader choice, you can “decaf” any tea by giving it a 15-30 second rinse, throwing out the first steeping to get rid of 80% of the caffeine and then brewing again.
Do you have caffeine free tea?
All of our Herbal teas and Rooibos teas do not have caffeine!
Ordering/Shipping Tea
How do I place an order?
Simply browse through our website and view our teas. When you've found something you like add the item to your shopping cart and select how many ounces you would like to purchase. When you're ready to checkout, view your shopping cart and begin the checkout process.
Do I have to order online?
Nope, we are more than happy to take your order over the phone! Simply call us at our store at (626) 303-2283 during our business hours. If you’re close to the Monrovia area, you are welcome to place your order and then pick it up to save on shipping costs!
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept Visa and MasterCard.
What is your Shipping Policy?
There is free shipping for all orders over $49 otherwise the standard shipping fees will apply.
If you live in Los Angeles or are planning to be in the area, you can come by and pick it up from our store to save on shipping costs!
Do you ship International?
Currently, we do not ship to international addresses.
Customer Service
How can we contact you?
We can be reached Monday - Saturday 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM and Sunday 11:00 AM - 6 PM PST at 626-303-2283. After hours, you can reach us at thelooseteas@gmail.com
You can also come by our store at 666 West Huntington Drive Monrovia, CA 91016.
What is your return/exchange policy?
All sales on loose tea and custom orders are final, including gift baskets. Unopened merchandise can be exchanged or store credit can be issued with a receipt within 20 days of purchase.
Any more questions? Please email us at thelooseteas@gmail.com.