You can recognize good quality tea by the shape of the tea leaves, flower buds, or herbs. Lower quality tea is often crumbled or powdered.
Good quality herbal tea, on the other hand, will more closely resemble a dried bouquet. This means you'll probably see pieces of fruit, plants, or flowers in your tea.
Dried herbs and flowers should have some weight and color to them, along with a fragrance not unlike the fresh plant. Old, low quality herbs feel lightweight, and they probably won't have as much fragrance or taste.
Your tea doesn't have to be top-tier to get the job done, of course, so don't feel bad about sticking to your favorite stash or Celestial Seasonings blend — we drink them, too!