Plastic teabags - microplastics in hot tea (restaurants, organic, healthy)
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You may have noticed that some tea bags are now made of a soft, porous material, which turns out to be plastic. The heat of tea brewing water dissolves some micro plastic particles in the tea you drink.
This is news to me! The link above is to a short Smithsonian article about it.
Then just buy loose tea. I will have to have a good look at my tea bags now.
I have been drinking loose tea, although I have some old fashioned teabags. Where I’ve seen the plastic bags is in restaurants where the tea is a bit more upscale.
I honestly did not know that the teabags were plastic.
Loose quality tea for me - those are real big chunk of leaves.
The filling that goes into the paper bags or plastic tips triangles is considered the 'lowest grade' of tea, as it's what was left over after the leaves passed through the grading machine.
It is powdery in texture and is often swept off the floor - DELICIOUS.
Why no one is talking about the metal staples:
Note that the cheap paper tea bags have a metal clip that holds the string attached to the bag. It looks like a paper staple. You dip it into your hot/cold water. Yuk!
They are mostly made of galvanized iron and zinc that may be soluble in water. Metallic dust on them may be ingested and cause pulmonary harm. The staple impedes recycling and composting.
Most countries stopped using them. Not the US, though...
When you buy a bit better quality of tea, you will see that they don't use those ugly metal staples.
Quote:
Originally Posted by silibran
I honestly did not know that the teabags were plastic.
What you thought they were made of? Don't they feel like nylon/plastic to you?
Several tea bag brands use polypropylene, a sealing plastic, to keep their tea bags from falling apart. This plastic is not recyclable or biodegradable.
Loose quality tea for me - those are real big chunk of leaves.
The filling that goes into the paper bags or plastic tips triangles is considered the 'lowest grade' of tea, as it's what was left over after the leaves passed through the grading machine.
It is powdery in texture and is often swept off the floor - DELICIOUS.
What you thought they were made of? Don't they feel like nylon/plastic to you?
They seemed to be a fabric similar to a lingerie fabric. Now that I think about it, nylon does not seem suitable for a tea bag either.
Yesterday, I bought a sampler pkg. of Steven Smith teas. Mfg. is Smith Teamaker in Portland. I have just now looked at a bag. You would think it was fabric. Once you put it between your fingers, it feels less like fabric. I do suspect it is plastic.
I think that the idea that tea bag tea is always inferior is dated. Choice Teas in Seattle makes very nice bagged teas. Their Russian Caravan blend is a fave of mine.
At any rate, I don’t know what I’m going to do with these sample tea bags.
Here are more yucky news about tea bags:
PAPER TEA BAGS pose an altogether different threat. ... Many paper bags are treated with a compound called epichlorohydrin, which is used to produce epoxy resins and acts as a pesticide! Epichlorohydrin is a plastic that helps to keep the tea bags from breaking. https://www.bwellbhealthy.com/blog/2...a-bag-it-is-in
If you like tea bags you could buy this: https://www.amazon.com/Disposable-In...e06-4458-88ef-
That's what I use when I want fast and convenient and don't want to fuss with loose tea infusers (well, mine are from overseas, but seem to be a similar kind)
You can likely check your tea manufacturer's website to see what their bags are made from. For instance, Stash notes that their bags are made from cellulose, have no epichlorohydrin, and are not stapled or glued.
You can likely check your tea manufacturer's website to see what their bags are made from. For instance, Stash notes that their bags are made from cellulose, have no epichlorohydrin, and are not stapled or glued.
Right. But this is a better quality tea, that doesn't cost $2 for 100 bags. Probably grade better than the dust too.
People buy the cheapest, then wonder...
I drink Stash Tea herbal tea and so it is nice to know their bags are safe too.
I don’t know what brands of tea use plastic teabags.
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