Who is this for?

First-time loose-leaf tea buyers

A pre-filled caddy combines tea and storage, but you will also need a way to strain the leaves when brewing.

Everyday black-tea drinkers

If black tea is your usual cup, choose the blend before the container design. Check the quantity against how often you expect to make tea.

Flavour explorers

A small caddy lets you try a specific flavoured blend without buying a larger pack. Check the ingredients if you would rather have an unflavoured tea.

What should you check before buying?

Choose the tea you want to drink first, then decide whether an included caddy or a separate container suits your kitchen.

Priority What to check Your needs
Tea style Read the tea type and flavour description. Check the pack's brewing instructions rather than assuming every blend is prepared alike. I usually drink traditional black tea, with or without milk. In the UK Tea & Infusions Association's 2025 Tea Census, 71% of surveyed Britons named it as their main infusion; that figure does not measure loose-leaf purchases.
Brewing equipment Check whether you have a teapot with an infuser, an infuser mug or a strainer. A storage caddy does not itself keep leaves out of the cup. If I only have mugs, I need a way to strain loose leaves before making this my regular tea.
Tea and container Check the tea quantity and whether the product includes a caddy. If buying tea and a jar separately, check that the container closes securely. I want to know whether one purchase covers both tea and storage, or whether I can use a container I already own.
Storage Plan a cool, dry place away from strongly flavoured or perfumed foods, as advised by the UK Tea & Infusions Association. Keep the container closed between uses. I have cupboard space away from steam and strong smells, so the tea can stay there after opening.

What can catch first-time buyers out?

  • Choosing the caddy before the tea

    A decorative tin can contain a distinctive blend: Earl Grey has bergamot flavouring, while Whittard's Covent Garden blend is a flavoured black tea.

    If you want an unflavoured everyday cup, check the blend description before choosing the packaging. Pick a flavoured tea when its stated ingredients appeal to you.

  • Assuming a caddy includes brewing equipment

    The caddy stores loose leaves; it does not replace an infuser or strainer. Brewing loose tea also involves measuring the leaves.

    Check what you already have in the kitchen. If you only have mugs, look for a suitable infuser or strainer before relying on loose tea for your daily brew.

    A separate infuser or strainer is another item to obtain and use.

  • Leaving tea beside steam or strong smells

    A convenient spot beside the cooker may not be a suitable place to keep an opened caddy. The UK Tea & Infusions Association advises cool, dry storage away from strongly flavoured or perfumed foods.

    Close the caddy or jar between brews and keep it in a dry cupboard away from steam and strongly scented items.

  • Confusing different sizes or packaging formats

    Products under the same tea name can differ in quantity and whether a caddy is included. A loose-tea pack is not automatically the same purchase as a pre-filled caddy.

    Before checkout, confirm the exact blend, weight, packaging and current availability of the item you intend to buy.

Which brands offer relevant options?

Twinings

An option if you want Earl Grey loose tea supplied in a caddy.

  • Twinings lists an Earl Grey loose-tea caddy containing 100g.
  • Earl Grey is a bergamot-flavoured choice, not an unflavoured black tea. Check stock before planning your shop around this caddy.

Yorkshire Tea

A reference point if you want a familiar black-tea blend in loose form.

  • Yorkshire Tea lists both Yorkshire Tea and Yorkshire Gold as loose teas.
  • If an included storage container matters, check the packaging of the particular loose-tea product.

Whittard

Worth considering when you want a small caddy to try a flavoured blend.

  • Its Covent Garden mini caddy contains 35g; Whittard describes this as about 17 cups using 2g per cup.
  • Check the flavour description if you are looking for an unflavoured breakfast-style tea.

Fortnum & Mason

Offers an Afternoon Blend loose tea in a decorative 125g caddy.

  • The named caddy combines loose tea and a storage container.
  • The blend is also listed in a bag format, so check which packaging you are selecting.

Bettys

Offers its Tea Room Blend loose leaf in a caddy.

  • The caddy is an option for someone who specifically wants Bettys' Tea Room Blend.
  • Bettys describes the blend as strong and rich; treat that as the brand's flavour description when deciding whether it matches your usual tea.

Ringtons

An option for choosing loose tea and a storage caddy separately.

  • Ringtons lists loose-tea blends and a separate Traditional Caddy among its accessories.
  • Check the contents of each product if you want tea and a container in the same purchase.

Loose-leaf tea options on Joybuy

These options pair loose tea with a tin or tins. One is Earl Grey for a familiar flavoured black-tea choice; the other is a Rou Gui oolong gift box for someone willing to follow a different brewing routine.

Brew Tea Co Earl Grey loose-leaf tea, 113g

Brew Tea Co Earl Grey Loose Leaf Tea, 113g

This Earl Grey comes as loose tea in a 113g tin for someone who wants tea and a container together. The described blend contains Ceylon black tea, bergamot oil and orange peel, so it is a flavoured choice rather than an unflavoured breakfast tea. If you do not have an infuser or strainer, check whether you need to obtain one separately.

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Tea Story Horse Head Rock Rou Gui loose-leaf tea gift box, 12 tins of 16g

Tea Story Horse Head Rock Rou Gui, 12 Tins × 16g

This Rou Gui oolong comes in 12 tins of 16g each, rather than as one caddy of black tea. Its described preparation involves rinsing the leaves and making repeated short infusions, so check that this brewing routine suits you. If you need a particular closure for longer-term storage, check how the tins close; also check whether you need separate brewing equipment.

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Common questions

How much loose tea should I use for a first cup?

The UK Tea & Infusions Association suggests one rounded teaspoon of loose tea per cup. Follow the instructions for your particular tea when brewing it.

Do I need to buy tea in a caddy?

No. A pre-filled caddy combines tea and storage, but you can choose loose tea separately if you have a suitable container or want to select one. Either way, you will need a way to strain the leaves when brewing.

Where should I keep loose tea after opening it?

Keep it closed in a cool, dry place away from strongly flavoured or perfumed foods, following UK Tea & Infusions Association guidance. Check any additional storage directions on your tea's packaging.

Can I add milk to loose-leaf tea?

Yes, if it suits the tea and your taste: traditional black tea is commonly considered with or without milk. Check the blend and its preparation instructions rather than assuming every loose-leaf tea is intended for the same kind of cup.