Meaning of loose tea in English. tea in the form of dried tea leaves that have not been put into teabags (= small paper bags each filled with enough tea leaves to make tea for one person): She didn't use teabags, but brewed a pot using loose tea. All dried tea (black, oolong, green, white) is made from drying and fermenting leaves from the plant Camellia sinesis. Matcha is another example of a dried tea – one that's been finely ground. If you consume tea frequently, you'll enjoy the unique flavor it imparts to various dishes. We love adding dried tea leaves to broths and poaching liquids to add an umami element. Additionally, the tannins in tea, particularly in black tea, have been known to make it a great meat tenderizer.