Sip Smarter: Why Loose Leaf Tea Saves You Big (Especially vs. Biggby & Starbucks)

If you’re anything like us, there’s nothing like a cozy cup of tea to perk up your day. And hey, we get it — sometimes a drive-thru cup from Starbucks or Biggby just hits the spot.

But here’s the tea (pun fully intended):
That daily habit is probably costing you way more than you think. Especially when you could be drinking better-quality tea at home for a fraction of the price.

💵 Let’s Talk Tea Math

Here’s a quick cost comparison:

That means you’re spending 8–12x more for one cup of drive-thru tea.
And it’s probably from a tea bag.
And you can’t re-steep it.
And you waited in line for it.

Let that steep for a second.

Why Loose Leaf Tea Just Makes More (Dollars and) Sense

✅ More Tea Per Bag

Loose leaf tea expands as it steeps, so a little goes a long way. A 2-ounce bag typically makes 30 to 50 cups — and that’s not even counting second (or third) steeps! And the Medium sized bag we carry (our most common size is 2oz). Our large ones are in the 5oz range. 

✅ Re-Steepable = Repeat Savings

Most of our teas at Sereni-Tea can be re-steeped 2–3 times. That means a single scoop can fuel your morning and your afternoon slump — all for pennies.

✅ No Branding Markups

With our loose leaf? You’re paying for what actually matters: the tea itself.

 A Daily Habit or a Daily Drain?

Let’s say you grab tea from Biggby or Starbucks 4 times a week:

That’s $12–$20 per week

Or $50–$80 per month

Or $600–$1,000 a year
(you could fly to England for a proper tea service with that…)

Now imagine creating a cozy little tea ritual at home or at work, using premium, better-tasting loose leaf blends — for a tiny fraction of the cost.

🌿 A Better Brew, A Better Budget

Loose leaf isn’t just more affordable — it’s also:

• Better for the environment (minimal packaging)
• Customizable to your taste
• Great for your wellness routine
• A relaxing, intentional ritual you can look forward to

And at Sereni-Tea, we make it easy to sip smarter with budget-friendly tea, starter baskets, and our $25/month Tea Subscription (hello, 5 blends + surprise goodies!).

Ready to Break Up With Drive-Thru Tea?

We’re not saying you can’t treat yourself once in a while - we’re just saying you don’t have to overpay for mediocre tea. Not when you could be sipping something way more delicious, healthy, and affordable from your own kitchen or desk.

👉 Shop Loose Leaf Teas
👉 Join the Tea Subscription Club – 5 Blends, Free Shipping, Bonus Gifts

Ok - So what if you aren’t a Drive-through addict? 

If you’ve ever stood in the grocery store aisle comparing prices between boxes of tea bags and tins of loose leaf tea, you might have wondered: Is loose leaf tea really worth it? Spoiler alert — yes, it is! Not just for the flavor and freshness, but for your wallet, too.

Here’s how buying loose leaf tea actually helps you save money in the long run:

1. More Bang for Your Brew

Loose leaf tea expands as it steeps, meaning just a teaspoon or two can brew an entire pot. Most people overestimate how much they need. In fact, you can get 30-50 cups of tea out of a typical 2-ounce bag of loose leaf — often more if you re-steep your leaves (which many quality blends are made for).

Compare that to a 20-count box of tea bags that gives you… well, 20 cups (if you’re lucky). Do the math, and loose leaf often costs pennies per cup — not dollars.

2. You’re Not Paying for Packaging

Ever noticed how much waste comes with individually wrapped tea bags? With loose leaf, you skip all the extra packaging — and that means you’re not paying for it either.

Loose leaf tea is often sold in bulk or in minimal packaging, making it not just eco-friendly but budget-friendly too.

3. Higher Quality = Less Needed

Lower-quality tea bags are often made with dust and fannings — the tiny, broken tea particles left over after higher-quality leaves are sorted out. These bits brew fast, but they lack the complex flavor of whole or larger-cut leaves. That means you might feel the need to double up just to get a stronger taste.

With loose leaf tea, you’re getting premium leaves, which means a richer, more satisfying cup — and no need to use more to make it taste good.

4. Reuse and Re-steep

One of the best-kept secrets of loose leaf tea? Many blends can be re-steeped 2-3 times (sometimes even more, depending on the type). That means one scoop of tea can give you multiple cups, stretching your stash even further.

Tea bags? Not so much. Most lose their flavor after just one go.

5. Buy What You Need, Not What You Don’t

At Sereni-Tea, we package by the ounce, which means you’re never stuck with a giant box of something you kinda liked. Want to try something new? Grab an ounce. Love a seasonal favorite? Stock up in bulk and save even more.

Buying only what you need cuts down on waste — and helps you stay within your tea budget (yes, that’s a thing).

Bottom Line?

Loose leaf tea isn’t just better for your taste buds — it’s better for your budget, too. When you break down the cost per cup, skip the fancy packaging, and re-steep those premium leaves, you’re making a smarter, more flavorful choice.

And trust us — once you go loose, you won’t go back.