What’s Actually in Your Tea Bag?
There’s nothing better than a comforting, warm cup of tea to soothe your nerves. But have you ever taken a moment to consider what exactly is in that tiny tea bag? While tea itself has long been recognized for its relaxing effects and antioxidants, the bag it’s packaged in may be holding secrets you didn’t sign up for, such as plastics and chemicals that may be seeping into your brew.
What Are Tea Bags Constructed From?
Most commercial tea bags aren’t simply paper. They’re a mixture of things such as bleached paper, nylon, and even plastic. Polypropylene, a common plastic, is sometimes used to close the bags and keep them from disintegrating in boiling water. Nylon mesh bags that come with pricier teas can appear strong and sleek, but they have issues of their own.
Even paper ones aren’t necessarily “just paper”—they might be bleached and bonded together with adhesives to maintain their form. The issue? When you steep one of these bags in boiling water, the heat can make them spit out tiny plastic particles and other chemicals directly into your tea.
Microplastics in Your Cup
Microplastics—those tiny plastic particles you’ve probably heard about in ocean water and seafood—are also showing up in hot beverages. Studies have found that a single plastic-based tea bag can release up to 1.2 billion nanoplastics per milliliter of brewed tea. That’s a staggering amount of plastic from just one cup.
Though human research is still lagging, animal studies indicate that these microplastics have the potential to damage DNA, cause oxidative stress, and even disrupt reproduction. We don’t yet have official limits or standard testing for microplastics in foods, says Wade Syers, a food safety specialist at Michigan State University Extension. So, although we can’t say for certain how dangerous they are to us at this time, a lot of people are playing it safe and reducing their exposure where they can.
Other Chemicals Concealed in Tea Bags
Better luck for you next time, right? Unfortunately, plastic is not the only culprit you may be drinking from. Chlorine dioxide is used to whiten many paper tea bags to achieve that pristine white appearance, and it can leave trace chemicals like dioxins—chemicals that can be toxic with repeated use. Certain brands also employ a chemical to strengthen their paper bags called epichlorohydrin. The catch? It’s a suspected carcinogen.
Even glues and adhesives that are used to seal the bag can seep into your beverage. And in a few instances, small metal staples or pins that are used to seal the bag can deposit rust or trace metals after a while.
What This Means for the Planet
It’s not only about your health—tea bags carry environmental baggage too. Those plastic and nylon bags aren’t naturally biodegradable, so they can linger in landfills or waterways for decades. Even paper bags aren’t completely biodegradable if they contain added plastics or chemicals.
Given how many individuals consume tea daily, all that waste from used tea bags worldwide actually adds up. Such materials tend to clog pipes, contaminate ecosystems, and even threaten wildlife.
Improved Methods of Brewing
If you enjoy your tea but wish to shun all that other stuff, there are a couple of safer alternatives to look into:
Loose-Leaf Tea
Steeping with loose-leaf tea and a stainless steel or glass infuser is one of the most sanitary means of brewing. You avoid the bag altogether and have a cleaner flavor—bonus: no chance for plastics or adhesives in your beverage.
Paper or Cellulose-Based Tea Bags
Some firms now produce tea bags from unbleached paper or plant fibers such as cellulose. These are usually safer, but ensure they don’t continue to use plastic to close the bags—many do, even if they appear green.
Tea Drops and Other Alternatives
Tea drops are dehydrated tea leaves that dissolve in water, and no bag or infuser is required. They’re convenient, mess-free, and bypass the usual concerns about bag materials.
An Added Bonus: Removal of Lead
Here’s a bonus: loose-leaf tea and certain cellulose-based tea bags can also remove small traces of lead from your water. Because of their surface area, they can absorb trace metals as they steep. This is not a substitute for effective water filtration, but it’s an interesting benefit to remember.
A Small Change with Big Impact
A few adjustments to the way you make your tea can keep you and the environment safe. Whether you go loose-leaf, opt for safer tea bags, or experiment with alternative brewing techniques, these small adjustments can make your daily tea ceremony that much more enjoyable, for you and the Earth.
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