5 Best Tea Shops for Loose Leaf Tea

Are you struggling to find a good place to buy loose-leaf tea? Here are five tea shops to buy higher quality tea online based on my experience in the tea business, including pros and cons.

The Tea Spot English Breakfast Tea loose leaf tea close up — The Tea Spot English Breakfast Tea

Since I started my tea business, I've had the opportunity to experience hundreds of premium loose-leaf teas from each online store listed here. These are some of the most popular specialty tea stores well-regarded for premium online tea shop selections.

Preferences vary from person to person, so what might be the perfect cup of tea for me may not be the same for you. Some shops listed will sell tea bags, but it is the high-quality leaf teas in bags rather than the dust and fannings common in grocery store tea bags.

As always, it's essential to research each tea shop thoroughly, read reviews, and check the types of tea offered to find the ones that best suit your taste preferences and requirements. I suggest some of the best places I shop to give you a headstart. Shipping may depend on your current location, but most offer international shipping, and some have free shipping.

While there are many quality tea shops, I'm keeping the list short to make your choices more accessible and less overwhelming. Choice overload is real.

My picks for 5 high-quality tea shops with pros and cons:

1. Adagio Teas

Adagio Tea loose leaf tea masters tea and tin — Adagio Tea

Adagio Tea is an online-only tea retailer with a wide variety of loose-leaf teas and herbs. There is something for every palate.

✓ Pros:

A family-owned business with a wide selection of fresh teas and herbs.
A user-friendly website.
Sample options available.
Extensive customer reviews.
A loyalty program.
Monthly tea club.
You can have Adagio make your own custom blend.
Masters Tea line for handmade artisan teas.

X Cons:

International shipping can be costly.
Sells on Amazon but has no dedicated Amazon store.

SHOP ADAGIO

SHOP ADAGIO ON AMAZON

2. Harney & Sons

Harney & Sons is an online tea retailer and is found in retail stores, restaurants, and cafes with an extensive variety of teas and tea gifts.

✓ Pros:

High-quality teas.
Unique blends.
Well-established reputation.
Most tea drinkers love Harney & Sons.
Available in many retail stores.
Dedicated Amazon store.

X Cons:

Some teas can be expensive.

SHOP HARNEY & SONS

SHOP HARNEY ON AMAZON

3. Firebelly Tea

Firebelly Tea Delicious Blends & Matcha Tea

Firebelly Tea is co-founded by David Segal, formerly of DavidsTea. Unlike DavidsTea, Firebelly Tea's delectability appeals to the refined tea drinker who wants to avoid added flavorings.

✓ Pros:

True tea lovers will appreciate high-quality pure teas with no added flavoring.
All teas are sold as loose tea.
Unique and tasty tea blends.
Subscription discounts on your favorite teas.
All teas are organic loose-leaf tea.
Beautiful minimalist teaware.

X Cons:

A small variety of single-leaf teas.
Only two types of oolong teas.
No dedicated Amazon store.

SHOP FIREBELLY TEA

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4. Rare Tea Company

rare tea company tea tin and loose leaf tea — Rare Tea Company Silver Needles Fresh Tea Leaves

Rare Tea Company was founded by Henrietta Lovell, "The Tea Lady," in London in 2004. She buys directly from the tea farmers for some of the freshest and finest rare teas. Her White Silver Tip Tea is superb.

✓ Pros:

A nice assortment of high-quality full-leaf tea with excellent customer service.
Incredible selection of white tea.
Directly sourced from tea farmers.
Dedicated Amazon shop.

X Cons:

NOT THE bubble tea franchise in the United States.
Do not confuse the two different tea websites.

SHOP RARE TEA CO.

SHOP RARE TEA CO. ON AMAZON

5. The Tea Spot

The Tea Spot loose tea and tumbler — The Tea Spot English Breakfast Tea

The Tea Spot is a boutique online tea shop founded by Maria Uspenski, with several retail stores in Colorado, and is found in select retail stores, restaurants, and cafes.