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Leaf & Lore, Fine Teas and Beautiful Books
Black bookshelves styled with classic novels, vintage-look editions, and decorative pieces like candles, miniature houses, and figurines

Teas with ingredients to feel good about!

Every tea we carry is chosen for what’s actually in the cup — real, natural ingredients, without artificial flavors, dyes, or fillers. We believe quality speaks for itself, so we look for whole leaves and honest ingredients you can actually pronounce. It’s a simple standard, but one we hold to with every blend on our shelves.

Our Tea Brands

We curate quality makers of fine tea, seeking out small producers and trusted names alike who share our standard for what a cup should be.

Chaiwala USA — Long Island, New York

Husband-and-wife owned, hand-blending organic chai inspired by African, Indian, and Middle Eastern traditions, sourced direct from farmers and packed locally.

Gnat and Bee — Loudonville, OH

A homestead apothecary crafting small-batch herbal teas from botanicals they grow and forage themselves, with an eye toward ritual, care, and sustainable packaging."

Hampstead Tea — Bedford, United Kingdom.

Fully organic and biodynamically grown, sourced through direct partnership with Darjeeling's Makaibari Tea Gardens, with fair-trade practices and plastic-free packaging throughout.

Little Prayer Tea Company — Seattle, Washington

Small-batch loose leaf teas paired with Scripture and encouragement, made by a company devoted to sharing God's peace one cup at a time.

Nelson's Tea — Indianapolis, Indiana

Small-batch loose leaf blends crafted with all-natural ingredients, no artificial flavors or preservatives, since 2012.

Oliver Pluff & Co. — Charleston, South Carolina

A veteran-owned company recreating historic tea blends from Revolutionary-era America, hand-packaged with a genuine link to the nation's tea heritage.

Tiesta Tea Co. — ?

Loose leaf only, sourced from more than 40 countries and blended for both flavor and function, with a foundation that gives back to communities in need.

Whittard of Chelsea — London, United Kingdom

A tea and coffee merchant since 1886, known for meticulously blended loose leaf teas and a founder's motto that still guides them: buy the best.

Winterwoods Tea Company — ?

Pacific Northwest inspired, small-batch blends using organic and locally foraged ingredients, fair-trade where possible.

The Perfect Cup o' Tea

A good cup of tea rewards a little patience. The right water temperature, the right steep time, even the right ratio of leaf to water — small details, but they’re the difference between a cup that’s merely fine and one that’s truly worth savoring. Here’s how we make ours.

1st - Start with good water.

Filtered water tastes best — chlorinated tap water can mute delicate flavors.

2nd - Match the temperature to the tea.

White and green teas prefer cooler water (160–180°F) to avoid bitterness; oolong sits in the middle (180–200°F); black tea and pu-erh want it closest to boiling (200–212°F).

3rd - Measure your leaves.

A good starting ratio is about 1 teaspoon of loose leaf per 8oz cup — adjust up for a stronger cup.

4th - Steep, then remove the leaves.

Steeping times vary by type: white and green teas, 1–3 minutes; oolong, 3–5 minutes; black tea, 3–5 minutes; herbal blends, 5–7 minutes. Leaving leaves in too long is the most common cause of bitterness.

5th - Many leaves can be re-steeped.

Oolong and pu-erh especially can yield two or three good cups from the same leaves — worth mentioning as a value tip.

Types O' Tea

Tea comes in more varieties than most people realize — and the difference between them isn’t just flavor, but how the leaves are grown, processed, and oxidized. Here’s a quick guide to what you’ll find on our shelves.

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Black Tea

Bold and fully oxidized, black tea is the most familiar starting point for new tea drinkers. Earl Grey, with its signature note of bergamot, is one of the most beloved blends in this category.

Green Tea

Lighter and grassier than black tea, green tea skips oxidation almost entirely, preserving a fresher, more vegetal character.

White Tea

The most delicate of all, minimally processed and prized for its subtlety.

Oolong

Partially oxidized, oolong sits between green and black tea, ranging from light and floral to dark and toasty depending on how long it's processed.

Herbal & Rooibos

Naturally caffeine-free, with a wide range of flavors — a favorite for an evening cup.

Pu-erh

Aged and fermented, pu-erh is earthy, complex, and often sought out by more adventurous tea drinkers.

100% organic

locally grown

Nutrient Dense

pressed daily


LEAF & LORE
106 S Jefferson St.
Ossian, IN  46777