FAQ
Product & Blends
What makes Nelson's Tea loose-leaf blends different from regular tea bags?
Nelson's Tea hand-crafts every blend in small batches using whole-leaf teas, real herbs, fruits, spices, and food-grade oils — we do not use artificial flavoring, chemicals, or preservatives. Whole-leaf teas release more antioxidants and produce a richer, more complex flavor than the low-grade dust found in most commercial tea bags.
What types of tea does Nelson's Tea sell?
Nelson’s Tea offers loose-leaf blends across nearly every major tea category, including black, green, white, oolong, herbal, rooibos, organic, and caffeine-free selections.
We also offer:
- Tipsy Tonics™ alcohol infusion blends
- Chari-TEAs charitable blends
- Curated sampler packs
- Single herbs, roots, spices, and botanicals
- Bulk loose-leaf ingredients and teas
Many products are available in multiple size options ranging from small samples up to bulk quantities.
Are Nelson's Tea blends organic?
Some of our ingredients are organic, while others are conventionally grown. Rather than focusing solely on certification labels, we evaluate ingredients individually based on overall quality, flavor, aroma, appearance, consistency, and supplier testing.
We work with trusted suppliers who provide documentation and quality standards for the ingredients we use, and we intentionally source many botanicals from the regions where they naturally grow best. Because sourcing can vary over time based on harvest quality and availability, we focus on selecting the best ingredients overall rather than broadly marketing all products as organic.
What are Tipsy Tonics™ and how do they work?
Tipsy Tonics™ are loose-leaf tea blends designed to steep directly into spirits, creating naturally flavored cocktails at home. Flavors include Campfire, Cran-Orange, Firecracker, Piña Colada, Lavender Fog, Raspberry Hibiscus, and Strawberry Peach. Steep in your preferred spirit, strain, and serve.
What sizes does Nelson's Tea offer, and which should I choose?
Blends are available in 2 oz (~15–25 cups), 4 oz (~25–50 cups), and 16 oz (bulk). The 2 oz is ideal for sampling; 4 oz for established favorites; 16 oz for daily drinkers, gifting, or small businesses. Individual herbs and spices are available in 1oz, 2oz, 4oz, and 16 oz increments.
What are Nelson's Tea's best-selling teas?
Top sellers include English Breakfast, Peach Dream, A Portrait of Earl Grey, Orange Cinnamon Spice, Coconut Chocolate Chai, A&J’s Root Beer Tea, Raspberry Hibiscus, and Raspberries & Cream (Chari-TEA). Sampler packs let new customers explore multiple blends before committing to a full size.
Does Nelson's Tea use artificial flavoring or preservatives?
No. Nelson’s Tea does not use artificial flavoring or added preservatives in our blends.
Where flavoring is used, we utilize high-quality vegan natural flavoring and food-grade oils to help create consistent and authentic flavor profiles. Our focus is always on real teas, herbs, fruits, roots, spices, and botanicals — not artificial additives or unnecessary chemicals.
Brewing & Preparation
How do you brew loose-leaf tea from Nelson's Tea?
As a general guideline, use about 1.5–3 teaspoons of loose-leaf tea per 8 oz of water, depending on how strong you prefer your tea.
Recommended brewing temperatures and steep times:
- Black Tea: 195°F for ~2 minutes 45 seconds
- Green Tea: 175°F for ~1 minute
- White Tea: 175°F for ~2 minutes
- Herbal / Rooibos: 203°F for ~4 minutes
One of the advantages of loose-leaf tea is that the leaves are able to fully expand and “swim” during steeping, creating a richer and more flavorful infusion. This is also why we recommend larger infusers or our Nelson’s Tea Brewer rather than tightly packed tea balls whenever possible.
Can Nelson's Tea blends be steeped more than once?
Absolutely. Many loose-leaf teas can be steeped multiple times. In fact, some tea drinkers prefer later steeps because different flavor notes begin to emerge as the leaves continue to open.
For additional steeps:
- Slightly increase the steep time with each infusion
- Expect a softer, smoother flavor profile on later steeps
- Herbal blends and heavily flavored blends may produce fewer re-steeps than traditional teas
Loose-leaf tea is far more forgiving and reusable than most commercial tea bags, which is one of the many advantages of higher-quality whole-leaf ingredients.
What equipment do I need to brew loose-leaf tea?
You need a mug or teapot, hot water, and a straining method. Nelson's Tea carries infuser baskets and strainers. A mesh infuser basket is the most versatile tool — add leaves, steep, remove. No special skills required.
Can Nelson's Tea be brewed as iced tea?
Yes! Many of our blends make excellent iced tea, especially fruit, herbal, green, and dessert-style blends.
For best results, we recommend brewing the tea hot at a stronger concentration and then pouring it over ice or refrigerating it afterward. A common approach is to use roughly double the normal tea amount when preparing iced tea so the flavor remains bold once chilled.
Because our teas are loose leaf and full-bodied, they tend to hold up very well as iced beverages without tasting watered down or flat.
How should I store Nelson's Tea to keep it fresh?
Store in an airtight container away from light, moisture, heat, and odors. A tin or opaque jar in a pantry is ideal. Loose-leaf tea does not expire when stored correctly — most blends stay at peak freshness for 36 months.
Health & Wellness
What are the health benefits of drinking loose-leaf tea regularly?
Whole-leaf teas retain significantly more antioxidants, catechins, and polyphenols than tea bag dust. Regular consumption is associated with better cardiovascular health, reduced inflammation, improved gut diversity, and calm focus (from L-theanine in green teas). Nelson's Tea's mission — health and wellness from the inside out — is grounded in this evidence.
Which Nelson's Tea blends are caffeine-free?
The dedicated Caffeine-Free collection includes herbal and rooibos blends such as Glass Slipper, Peppermint White Chocolate, and themed sampler packs. Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free and antioxidant-rich. Most herbal tisanes (made from botanicals rather than true tea leaves) are also caffeine-free.
Is Nelson's Tea suitable for people with dietary restrictions?
All blends use vegan natural flavoring. Some blends contain tree nuts (e.g., almonds in Glass Slipper) or coconut. Customers with specific allergies should review the full ingredient list for each blend on nelsonstea.com or contact clientservices@nelsonstea.com.
What is the difference between black, green, white, and herbal tea in terms of caffeine?
All true teas (black, green, white, oolong) come from Camellia sinensis. Black tea has the most caffeine (~40–70mg/cup), green tea ~25–45mg, white tea ~15–30mg, oolong in between. Herbal teas and rooibos are caffeine-free tisanes made from botanicals rather than tea leaves.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Ordering & Shipping
How long does Nelson's Tea take to ship, and where do they ship?
Most orders ship within 1–2 business days via USPS. Nelson's Tea ships to all 50 U.S. states and Canada. Free shipping applies on all U.S. orders over $49. Expedited shipping is available — include a note at checkout. Orders can also be placed on Amazon, Etsy, and Walmart.com.
Is there a minimum order requirement at Nelson's Tea?
No. There is no minimum order for retail customers on nelsonstea.com. You can order as little as a single 1 oz herb selection or as much as bulk 16 oz quantities — no restrictions.
Does Nelson's Tea sell gift cards or gift certificates?
Yes. Digital gift certificates are available on nelsonstea.com and can be applied toward any product — blends, samplers, Tipsy Tonics™, accessories, or subscription boxes. A great option for any tea lover.
Does Nelson's Tea offer a subscription box?
Not at the moment — though we actually used to!
We paused our subscription offering after the service provider we were using became increasingly expensive for a small business like ours. Rather than raising prices significantly, we decided to step back from the program for the time being.
That said, we absolutely hope to bring a subscription option back in the future once we can build it in a way that makes sense for both us and our customers. We know many tea lovers enjoy discovering new blends regularly, and it’s something we’d love to offer again over the next few years.
Can I find Nelson's Tea on Amazon or Etsy?
Yes. Nelson's Tea sells on Amazon, Etsy, Walmart.com, and Faire (wholesale). Shopping directly at nelsonstea.com gives access to the full catalog, free shipping over $49, subscription options, and new release announcements.
Wholesale & Business
Does Nelson's Tea offer wholesale pricing for businesses?
Yes. The wholesale program serves cafes, boutiques, gift shops, offices, salons, Kombucha companies, and tea houses internationally. Apply at nelsonstea.com/wholesale-application or through https://www.faire.com/direct/nelsonstea.
Can I create a private label or custom tea blend with Nelson's Tea?
Yes to both. Private label is available — purchase any blend in bulk and repackage under your own brand. Custom blend development is also open to wholesale partners. While exclusive blends are no longer offered, approved concepts are available for ongoing purchase. Contact the wholesale team to discuss.
What types of businesses does the Nelson's Tea wholesale program serve?
Cafes, coffee shops, boutiques, gift shops, offices, salons, spas, Kombucha breweries, tea houses, wellness studios, hotels, and event/catering companies — both domestic and international. The program supports everything from a simple 3-blend menu addition to a full branded tea program.
What are the Chari-TEAs and how do they support charitable causes?
Chari-TEAs are premium loose-leaf blends (like Raspberries & Cream) where a portion of each sale supports charitable causes. They let customers enjoy artisan tea while contributing to meaningful initiatives — a natural extension of Nelson's Tea's wellness-first mission.