Food Shopping and Storing The Best Places to Buy Tea Online to Keep Your Pantry Stocked See our picks for every kind of tea lover By Irvin Lin Irvin Lin Irvin is a critically acclaimed cookbook author and food blogger. His cookbook "Marbled, Swirled, and Layered" was chosen as one of the best baking cookbooks of 2016 in the New York Times. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on March 23, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: Guido Mieth / Getty Images After water, tea is the most popular drink in the world (sorry to all those coffee and beer lovers). But for those looking beyond the typical grocery store tea bag, it can be a daunting choice. There are numerous tea companies out there with hundreds of tea varieties. And that's not even taking herbal teas (otherwise known as tisane or herbal infusions; these are not technically tea because they aren't made from the tea plant) into consideration. To help weed through all the options, we looked all over to find the best places to buy tea online. Best Places to Buy Tea Online in 2023 Best for Loose-Leaf Tea: Adagio Teas Best Subscription: Sips by Best for Gifting: Free Your Tea Best for Specialty Tea: Tea Drunk Best for Boba Tea: Locca Best for Organic Tea: Rishi Tea & Botanicals Best for Convenience: Pique Best for Wellness Teas: The Tea Spot Best for Black Tea: Harney & Sons Best for Herbal Teas: Mountain Rose Herbs Best for Loose-Leaf Tea: Adagio Teas Adagio Teas Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $9 for 3 ouncesDelivery Area: 50 statesTypes Available: Both loose leaf and bag Why You Should Try It Adagio Teas offers a wide range of teas, tisanes, herbal infusions, and custom blends, all of which can be purchased as loose leaf or conveniently measured into individual pyramid bags. Pros and Cons Pros All teas are loose leaf or in pyramid bags Ability to create custom blends Reasonably priced Cons Tea purists might take issue with some of the novelty-flavored blends Overview Though there's a convenience to buying tea already in bags, purists and tea enthusiasts know that high-quality tea often comes in loose-leaf form. All Adagio Teas are available loose and in pyramid-shaped bags, which allows full-leaf tea to expand in the bag when steeped. Adagio Teas has a large selection, ranging from the classics like black, green, and white tea, as well as herbal, rooibos, decaf, and blends. Sample packets are available, which makes it easy to try out different flavored teas to see which you like, and you can even create your own custom blend. Best Subscription: Sips by Sips by Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $9 for 2 ounces, $16 per month for membershipDelivery Area: 50 states Types Available: Both loose leaf and bag Why You Should Try It Sips by offers hundreds of tea brands but is primarily known for its expertly curated tea boxes customized to your tastes. Pros and Cons Pros Huge selection of teas Option to shop teas that are woman- and/or BIPOC-owned Personalized tea boxes designed for your own tastes Cons Can take a couple of deliveries to help refine tea selection for your tastes Large selection of teas makes it challenging to order à la carte Overview Sips by is a female-founded company offering monthly subscription tea boxes created based on your taste. Each box features four premium teas based on your preferences, steeping guidelines, tasting notes, and tea filters. Membership also allows you to join virtual tea parties, learn more about tea, gain access to recipes, and more. If you like the tea you receive, Sips by asks you to rate the teas to tailor future boxes to your taste preferences, and all teas are available à la carte through its online tea shop. Best for Gifting: Free Your Tea Free Your Tea Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $60 for four 2-ounce teas every two monthsDelivery Area: 50 states and internationalTypes Available: Loose leaf Why You Should Try It Free Your Tea offers personalized tea boxes that ensure you or a lucky recipient will receive the gift of the perfect cup of tea. Pros and Cons Pros Curated teas to your gift receiver's taste Free shipping on all orders Ability to order tea from gift box again if you like it Cons Doesn't allow you to order tea without subscription Teas are all loose, no premeasured sachets or bags Overview While tea preferences can be very personal, Free Your Tea makes it easy to gift tea to a friend or loved one. Once you purchase a gift, the recipient will receive a gift message, prompting them to go through an onboarding process that discovers their tea preferences and tastes. Gift subscriptions can be a one-off shipment of six different teas or an ongoing subscription of three or four shipments. Each shipment has different teas that can be purchased individually if the recipient loves them, as well as drawstring bags that make brewing the loose tea easy. Best for Specialty Tea: Tea Drunk Tea drunk Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $10 for 4 gramsDelivery Area: 50 states Types Available: Loose leaf Why You Should Try It Tea Drunk offers rare, heirloom, and exceptional quality teas for the true tea connoisseur. Pros and Cons Pros Offers highest quality rare and heirloom teas unavailable elsewhere All teas are handpicked and hand-harvested Teas can be filtered by terroir, cultivar, and vintage Cons Teas are more expensive than other places Only sells loose-leaf tea, no premeasured sachets or bags Overview If you view teas like a wine collector views their wineries and vintages, Tea Drunk is the company for you. It only offers the highest quality teas, some available nowhere else, like a rare yellow tea that only grows on a tiny one-square-kilometer island. Teas are specifically identified based on where they were picked, who produced them, and what year they were harvested, along with tasting notes for each tea. There are also numerous tea educational courses, so you can learn the storied history of tea, how to properly brew your teas, and how to pair tea with food. Tea Drunk even offers virtual tea tours where you can learn how and where specific teas are harvested and processed. Best for Boba Tea: Locca Locca Boba Tea Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $9.50 for 1-ounce teaDelivery Area: 50 statesTypes Available: Loose leaf Why You Should Try It If you're obsessed with boba tea, the popular Taiwanese tea drink that has tapioca pearl balls, Locca offers kits, as well as loose tea, brown sugar syrup, and everything else you need to enjoy boba at home. Pros and Cons Pros Offers kits as well as individual ingredients for boba tea Easy instructions on how to make boba at home Free shipping for orders over $50 Cons Limited selection of teas offered Making boba at home can be time-consuming Overview Boba tea, otherwise known as bubble tea or milk tea, is a popular Taiwanese drink that features soft and chewy tapioca balls at the bottom of a milky tea drink. It's a unique drink but requires specialty ingredients, including tapioca balls. Thankfully, Locca delivers premium boba tea kits so you can make the bubble tea drink in the comfort of your home. Kits include the tapioca balls, the tea itself, brown sugar syrup, and the large straws needed to suck up the boba balls, though you can also buy any of the ingredients individually if you wish. Best for Organic Tea: Rishi Tea & Botanicals Rishi Tea & Botanicals Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $15 for 50 gramsDelivery Area: 50 statesTypes Available: Both loose leaf and bag Why You Should Try It If you are looking for organic tea, Rishi Tea & Botanicals’ commitment to sustainability made it one of the first companies to earn organic certification in 2002. Pros and Cons Pros Ninety-five percent of the teas are organic Company is dedicated to sustainability with direct trade Online shop has easy filtering options Cons Not all their teas are available in sachets Overview Founded in 1997, Rishi Tea & Botanicals can often be found in well-stocked grocery stores, but its online store has a significantly wider selection, with some specialty teas that you can't find in any retail store. In November 2022, the company was one of the first to earn an organic certification from the USDA's National Organic Program, and it has been committed to sustainability from its beginnings. The company works directly with farms, cutting out the middleman distributor and paying five to 10 times the commodity prices so growers can focus on sustainable quality products. Consumers can get some of the highest quality teas. Ninety-five percent of the teas and botanicals are certified organic, while the remaining products are often grown with sustainable and organic farming techniques but aren't certified organic yet. Best for Convenience: Pique Pique Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $16 for 14-serving cartonDelivery Area: 50 statesTypes Available: Packets (no brewing necessary) and matcha powder Why You Should Try It Pique sells tea crystals and matcha powder, which preserve the nutrient content of its teas and are convenient to brew. Pros and Cons Pros Convenient packets don't require brewing Tea crystal processing preserves nutrients Matcha powder is organic, ceremonial grade, and 4x toxin-screened Cons Can be expensive per serving Overview Pique focuses on the science and wellness of tea by offering organic, ceremonial-grade matcha, which is the highest grade of matcha available. It also offers tea crystals made of cold-brewed tea that has been turned into dissolvable crystals by a combination process of pressure and low-temperature dehydration. These tea crystal packets mean you can get all the health benefits of tea without the brew time, making them easy to use in a rush or on the go. All teas are triple or quadruple toxin-screened to ensure that no pesticides, toxic molds, or heavy metals are in them. Best for Wellness Teas: The Tea Spot the tea spot Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $3 for five teaspoons Delivery Area: 50 statesTypes Available: Both loose leaf and bag Why You Should Try It The Tea Spot offers a wide range of teas, tisanes, and herbal blends, all categorized by type, flavor, as well as function. Pros and Cons Pros Great filtering options for online store Wide selection of teas and herbal blends Option for subscription on teas Cons Some teas only available as loose leaf Some teas are sold out Overview With a large selection of teas and herbal blends, The Tea Spot offers everything from single-estate full-leaf teas to signature blends. Its teas are available as loose leaves, with some teas packaged in sachets. Their online store allows you to select your teas by type, such as green, black, or white; by flavor, such as chocolate, floral, or fruity; or by function, such as detox, digestion, or sore throat. Teas can be purchased à la carte, often in five-teaspoon samples so you can try it without a significant commitment. The Tea Spot also offers tea in bulk sizes like 1/4 pound to 1 pound, as well as some in individual sachets. All teas can be set up as a subscription, saving you 15 percent. Best for Black Tea: Harney & Sons Harney & Sons Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $4 for a sampleDelivery Area: 50 statesTypes Available: Both loose leaf and bag Why You Should Try It With over 300 teas and herbal blends offered, Harney & Sons provides a wide range of acclaimed black teas, both single-estate as well as blends and flavors. Pros and Cons Pros Large selection of black teas Most teas offered are loose, in sachets or in bags, and samples sizes Free shipping on all orders Cons Some teas are periodically sold out or unavailable Overview Harney & Sons was founded in 1985 and is currently run by the third generation of Harneys, all whom have a passion for quality tea. You can find a selection of its teas in various retail stores, but its online store has far more choices, including signature blends and herbal blends. Teas are available as loose leaf, with some select teas available in pyramid-shaped sachets, which allows the full leaves to expand, and tea bags convenient for brewing and travel. Harney & Sons' black teas are some of the most acclaimed in the world, with its Queen Catherine black tea blend featured in the Museum of Tea in Hangzhou, China, making Harney & Sons the only Western tea company to receive this honor. Best for Herbal Teas: Mountain Rose Herbs mountain rose herbs Buy Now Key Specs Starting Price: $4.50 for 1.8-ounce tinDelivery Area: 50 statesTypes Available: Loose leaf Why You Should Try It Mountain Rose Herbs offers bulk herbs and spices, so it's no surprise that its herbal tea selection is excellent. Pros and Cons Pros Large selection of signature herbal blends Large selection of other teas, chai, and mate Beyond teas, they offer herbs, spices, essential oils, and more Cons Only offers loose leaf Overview Mountain Rose Herbs, founded in 1987, is a certified organic processor, with most of its products organic, or at the very least, wild-harvested or cultivated without chemicals. It's known for its bulk herbs, spices, and essential oils, and along with those products, offers a wide selection of teas, chai, mate, rooibos, and herbal teas. Its custom signature herbal blends range from more traditional chamomile and mint to herbal coffee, mimicking coffee's flavor minus the caffeine. Loose-leaf teas are available in retail tins that are 1.8 to 1.9 ounces, with some in larger one-pound bulk amounts. Final Thoughts While making this list, we looked for companies that offered a wide selection of teas, as well as the highest quality of tea offered. If you want a regular supply of tea, a subscription service from Sips by can be an excellent option, but if you're a connoisseur of black tea, Harney & Sons may be your go-to. And if you want to limit your caffeine intake, herbal teas from Mountain Rose Herbs may be the solution for you. Compare the Best Places to Buy Tea Online Company Starting Price Delivery Area Types Available Gift Option Best for Loose-Leaf Tea Adagio Teas $9 for 3 ounces 50 states Both loose leaf and bag Yes Best Subscription Sips by $9 for 2 ounces, $16 per month for membership 50 states Both loose leaf and bag Yes Best for Gifting Free Your Tea $60 for four 2-ounce teas every two months 50 states Loose leaf Yes Best for Specialty Tea Tea Drunk $10 for 4 grams 50 states Loose leaf Yes Best for Boba Tea Locca $9.50 for 1-ounce tea 50 states Loose leaf Yes Best for Organic Tea Rishi Tea & Botanicals $15 for 50 grams 50 states Both loose leaf and bag Yes Best for Convenience Pique $16 for 14-serving carton 50 states Packets (no brewing necessary) and matcha powder Yes Best for Wellness Teas The Tea Spot $3 for 5 teaspoons 50 states Both loose leaf and bag Yes Best for Black Tea Harney & Sons $4 for a sample 50 states Both loose leaf and bag Yes Best for Herbal Teas Mountain Rose Herbs $4.50 for 1.8-ounce tin 50 states Loose leaf Yes Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Best Way to Brew Tea? Each tea, whether it's green, black, white, or an herbal tisane, requires its own special brewing method. Most websites and packages will tell you the amount of water required for each specific tea and the appropriate temperature for that tea. When brewing tea, it is best to use high-quality water and to use the right temperature. White tea requires the coolest water at 175°F to 185°F, while some herbal tisanes need water to reach boiling before steeping. Steeping for the right amount of time is equally important, as you don't over- or under-extract the tea, which can significantly alter its taste. How Do You Find High-Quality Tea? Look for a reputable tea company that works directly with tea farms or estates, so you know you are getting the best quality tea directly. When looking at the company, read the descriptions and history of the specific tea, and look on the website for educational resources about the tea and how to brew it. Finally, look for teas that come loose or in large sachets instead of tea bags, as large sachets allow the full-leaf tea to expand and bloom, releasing more flavor. Is It Better to Buy Loose-Leaf Tea or Tea Bags? Loose-leaf tea is almost always higher quality tea than tea in tea bags. Tea bags are often filled with broken or dust particles of tea, which is the lowest quality. If you desire the convenience of individual tea bags, look for pyramid or larger sachets that allow the loose-leaf and full-leaf teas to expand and bloom. These sachets are often a sign of a higher quality tea. What Is The Best Way to Store Tea? Tea leaves are damaged by heat, light, moisture, and air. They should be stored in cool, dark areas inside airtight containers if possible. Avoid storing the tea near a stove, a bright sunny window, or anywhere warm. Never store the tea in the fridge or freezer, as moisture and condensation can damage and degrade the tea. Methodology We looked at numerous companies online to come up with this list. We looked at each company’s heritage and mission statement and evaluated the educational resources each company offered. We also looked at how the tea was sourced, specifically considering companies that buy tea directly from farms and estates. We assessed how the tea was offered, including loose, sachet, or bags. We also considered how each tea product was listed on the site; if there was a history of where the tea came from, had tasting notes, suggested brewing methods, and other information like caffeine or wellness notes about the tea. Finally, we reviewed the websites and online ordering system, to see how easy it was to find the right tea for each individual's preference. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Related Articles The 10 Best Tea Subscription Boxes for Tea Lovers Loose Leaf Tea vs. Tea Bags: Which Is Better? ? 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