For most of us, tea is enjoyed hot, sweetened, and brewed. But what about the leaves themselves? Here’s everything you need to know about consuming your tea leaves and why it isn’t so bad for you after all.
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What plant are tea leaves from?
Real teas (black, green, oolong, white, pu-erh) come from the camellia sinensis plant. But you can also have herbal teas that are made with herbs, flowers, and even dried fruits. Think mint teas, rooibos, and camomile.
Types of tea leaves
Whole, rolled, and even finely ground — tea leaves come in all shapes and sizes. In general, loose leaves are made with whole leaves, bagged teas contain smaller cut leaves, and some teas like matcha and hojicha are made by grinding tea leaves into fine powder.
Is it okay for you to drink tea leaves?
While not all leaves or herbs are safe to consume, teas made from camelia sinesis and other commonly used herbs in tea are generally well tolerated. So whether your tea bag breaks, you let a few loose leaves slip through your filter, or you choose to go for a cup of matcha, it’s perfectly fine to drink your tea leaves.
Is it okay for you to eat tea leaves?
Drinking your tea is not the only way to enjoy the host of benefits and flavors teas offer. You can also add your tea leaves to salads, cakes, and other dishes. Lahpet Thoke, for example, is a Cambodian-Burmese dish that combines fermented tea leaves with seasoning and a medley of vegetables, including peanuts, tomatoes, and finely chopped cabbage.
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