The first-glance-assumption that fine loose leaf tea is expensive is an error most people make. A quick synopsis of the economy of tea versus coffee  will put the price of tea in perspective.

A pound of tea typically produces 200 cups (or 220 cups per 500 grams of tea) while a pound of coffee produces about 50 cups – that is one quarter the yield of loose tea per pound.  Because dry loose leaf tea has more caffeine by weight than does coffee more dried coffee is used for brewing than loose tea, which concludes that a cup of brewed tea contains significantly less caffeine than an equal cup of coffee.

There are truly fine teas that retail in the United States for less than $20 per pound, which is to say that the cost per cup of tea is less than 10 cents. The frugality of tea does not stop there; one must consider that most quality loose teas will support multiple infusions from the same leaves. At this rate, tea becomes the most affordable luxury in the world!