ContactFrequently Asked Questions
Welcome to The TeaLeaf Trader FAQ. Here you can easily find the answers to frequently asked questions. Please click on a question below to see the answer. If you can't find the answer to your question here, please Contact Us
Common Tea Questions
1. Why drink tea?
2. What are herbal teas?
3. Where does tealeaftrader.com's tea come from?
4. Is there a benefit to hand picked leaves vs. machines?
5. Do herbal teas contain caffeine?
6. How do I brew herbal tea?
7. Can I decaffeinate my tea?
8. Does drinking tea help health?
9. Why should I brew open leaves?
10. How should I store tea leaves?
11. Can I sweeten my tea?
12. Does Tealeaftrader.com offer any specials?
Technical Support
13. What is the best way to contact someone at Tealeaftrader.com?
14. How will my tea be shipped to me?
15. How long does it take to process an order?
16. What if I made a mistake and need to change an order?
17. What is your refund or return policy?
Well aside from its soothing properties and great taste, tea has it various health benefits anywhere from helping fight the common cold to lowering blood pressure or even fighting cancer.
What are herbal teas?We have a variety of tea's available including Blooming, Dragon Well, Green Jade, Jasmine Pearls, Lapsang Souchong, Black Ly Chee, Oriental Beauty, Puer, Spring Mountain, Tie Guan Yin & White Peony. For specific information about any of these teas, click on their link on the sidebar to your left.
Where does tealeaftrader.com's tea come from?We get our tea directly from quality growers in China and Taiwan. Since we deal directly with them, we have no middle man and offer you the lowest price possible.
Is there a benefit to hand picked leaves vs. machines?Yes! Tea leaves that are machine picked end up bruised and damaged lowering the quality of tea. We only provide teas from growers who handle their product with care by hand picking the leaves giving you the highest quality tea possible.
Do herbal teas contain caffeine?Naturaly all herbal teas have some amount of caffiene. Some teas are lower than others. For specific caffiene levels, please visit the links to the individual teas.
How do I brew herbal tea?Different teas require different brewing. Please visit our individual tea links for more information on how to brew that specific tea. A general guideline for brewing would be that the temperature of the water should range from a full boil which is about 195f to a light boil which is about 100f. After the temperature is right add the tea leaves into the water in the teapot rinse it once quickly with the hot water. The tea should steep anywhere from 2-4 min.
Can I decaffeinate my tea?As it turns out, 80% of water soluble caffiene in tea leaves are released in the first 30 seconds of brewing. The most effective way to remove the majority of caffiene from your tea is to "give it a good wash." Pour boiling water over the tea leaves in your cup or pot, allow it to steep for approximately 30 seconds, then discard the liquid. From this point, you can simply add your hot water to the "washed" tea leaves for a brew now significantly lower in caffiene.
Does drinking tea help health?Yes there are many studies on the variety of benefits of drinking tea. Please visit our health section to find research articles and studies that explain the many health benefits of drinking tea..
Why should I brew open leaves?Brewing open leaves vs conventional tea bags basically allows the water to bring out the most nutrients from the leaves. Unfortunately with bagged tea, the leaves aren't allowed to open up and release all of their nutrients, but are instead stifled and compact. On a side note, most conventional bagged teas offered in stores are actually something called "Tea Shavings" which are the left over ends of what is left after the good tea leaves are harvested. These tea shavings offer little to no health benefits and should be avoided.
How should I store tea leaves?Tea Leaves should be stored in an air-tight container and out of direct sunlight. If you are not planning on drinking the tea right away do not open the bag. You can always store tea leaves in a freezer if it has not been opened.
Can I sweeten my tea?None of our teas are artificially sweetened, however several of the teas we offer already have a naturally sweet flavor based on the tea leaves themselves. We recommend trying the tea before sweetening, but if you decide to add a sweetener we recommend natural sugar cane or honey. At tealeaftrader.com we always promote healthy tea choices and recommend that you avoid unnatural or chemical sugar replacements if you plan on sweetening your tea.
Does Tealeaftrader.com offer any specials?Tealeaftrader.com has and will have specials, all of which will be posted online on the home page. Also, if you contact us and ask to be added to our mailing list, we can update you with email only specials and updates as soon as they are available.
What is the best way to contact someone at Tealeaftrader.com?The best way to contact someone at tealeaftrader.com is by phone or email.
Phone: 602-903-1888
Email: teatrader@cox.net
How will my tea be shipped to me?Your order will be shipped via UPS. Depending on the order size shipping charges may apply. Please ask about direct delivery options if you are in the phoenix metropolotin area.
How long does it take to process an order?Orders placed should be processed within 24 hours. Please provide more time for bulk quantity orders. If you ever have a question or need special arrangments on process and delivery times, please contact us directly about your order.
What if I made a mistake and need to change an order?If an order has been placed in error or there are changes that need to be made, please contact us by phone at 602-903-1888 immediately and we will be happy to correct the order.
What is your refund or return policy?Please contact a representative at 602-903-1888 if you feel there is a need to return or refund your teas.