| Demand for high quality loose leaf tea is | | | | tea bags and no trendy herbals from high |
| experiencing strong growth and for those | | | | quality loose tea suppliers; only real tea |
| interested in high quality loose tea, more | | | | from the Camellia Sinensis bush. And, of |
| information will aid in decision making. | | | | course, only the finest.Purchasing, Quality |
| Critical elements in the process | | | | Control and Customer ServiceAccess to high |
| include:Source of the TeaManufacturing | | | | quality loose leaf tea is the final element. |
| ProcessesPurchasing, Quality Control and | | | | Most loose leaf teas are not available in |
| Customer ServiceSource of the TeaAll tea | | | | retail outlets. Nevertheless, quality tea is |
| comes from the plant Camellia Sinensis but | | | | easily available through e-commerce outlets |
| there is where the similarity between high | | | | on the internet.Increasingly e-commerce over |
| quality loose leaf tea and other, lesser | | | | the internet has proven to be an efficient |
| quality ends. From the time the tea leaves | | | | and easy way to purchase quality products and |
| are plucked until the time the consumer | | | | those e-commerce sites that are customer |
| tastes the brew, a number of critical events | | | | friendly also offer convenient and low cost |
| affect the tea experience.High quality loose | | | | home delivery. Loose leaf tea is ideally |
| leaf teas are carefully selected as only the | | | | suited to e-commerce because it is light and |
| finest of these rare orthodox teas, which are | | | | easy to transport.When evaluating e-commerce |
| processed slowly and hand-crafted with | | | | sites, the consumer should consider those |
| extreme care.Tea, like wine, is harvested and | | | | sites that are interactive, easy to use and |
| processed into the final product on the | | | | offer rich features such as auto shipping, |
| grounds of the garden or estate. The taste | | | | multiple destination shipments, gift |
| and quality of any tea varietal depends upon | | | | shipments and delivery flexibility.The loose |
| the specific growing conditions. Factors such | | | | leaf tea experience is all about quality and |
| as altitude, climate, soil, weather, and | | | | quality does not end with manufacturing. |
| plucking season all affect the final | | | | Those suppliers that are truly dedicated to |
| product.To produce just one pound of quality | | | | quality will maintain quality control over |
| loose leaf tea, it takes approximately 3,000 | | | | each shipment received from the producing tea |
| hand plucked leaves. Only the most tender | | | | garden.Since almost all quality loose leaf |
| leaves and young buds are selected. After the | | | | tea comes from other countries such as China, |
| leaves are picked, the precise art of tea | | | | India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and others, choose a |
| making begins.Manufacturing ProcessesTea is | | | | supplier who cups or tastes each shipment |
| manufactured by two different processes.Most | | | | before acceptance. This measure of quality |
| ordinary tea is machine processed by the | | | | control will guarantee consistent quality but |
| C.T.C. method (crush, tear, curl). The | | | | most loose leaf tea suppliers skip this |
| resulting small, broken pieces are used in | | | | important step. Check with a potential |
| tea bags or iced tea concentrates. Less than | | | | supplier to determine their cupping |
| 2% of the world's tea is of superior quality, | | | | commitment.In addition to quality control, |
| hand-processed in the classic, time-honored | | | | customer service is a critical element in the |
| method known as orthodox manufacture.High | | | | loose tea relationship. Since the purchase of |
| quality suppliers are dedicated to offering | | | | high quality loose tea tends to be a long |
| outstanding, whole-leaf teas of the greatest | | | | term relationship, consideration of the needs |
| quality and finesse. Whole-leaf varietals | | | | of the customer and customer satisfaction is |
| retain the subtle nuances of flavor so prized | | | | paramount.The best suppliers have a culture |
| by discriminating palates throughout the | | | | of customer service, open lines of |
| centuries. The highest quality loose teas are | | | | communication to customer service personnel |
| hand-plucked and meticulously crafted to | | | | and solicit feedback from customers as a way |
| enhance leaf character, aroma, color, | | | | to maintain consistent quality.Jon M. Stout |
| clarity, body, complexity, and above all, | | | | is Chairman of the Board of Golden Moon Tea a |
| flavor. Connoisseurs will find no soggy paper | | | | division of Element H2O. |