Tea bags are a controversial topic for me, and I will never understand why people prefer machine-produced dust wrapped in chemically manufactured bags and believe they are experiencing tea. If that’s what most people can offer, then I belong to the group of coffee drinkers. I’d rather have a bad cup of coffee than a cocktail of chemical bag and tea dust.
Few would think it’s acceptable to brew tea in nylon stockings, yet supermarkets and many tea shops are overflowing with tea packaged in so-called silk or pyramid bags. They look exclusive, and we can glimpse the colorful potpourri of tea and herbs that make up the contents through the bag. But how much luxury is there in these bags that we are willing to pay up to 7 kr. per bag for?
Tea Bags
Tea bags are not a sustainable choice. Most are not biodegradable, and none of the tea bags I have found on the Danish market can decompose in nature. The majority of silk or pyramid bags are made from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), which is a food-approved nylon used for general food packaging. This type of plastic has a high melting point, so the risk of ingesting plastic is very low. However, when we brew tea in plastic bags, we pour hot water over the bag, and something else happens. The bag will not melt, but phthalates in the plastic will be released at temperatures as low as 46 °C, and most teas require temperatures between 80-100 °C. The more times you brew the same tea bag, the more phthalates you are absorbing into your cup of tea. We do not know how dangerous these substances are, as no studies have yet been conducted to prove that these tea bags are either harmful or completely harmless. But we do know that phthalates can alter the body’s endocrine system. One of the purposes of the endocrine system is to adapt the organism’s needs for growth and reproduction. The question is, can phthalates ingested daily be hormone-disrupting?
But what’s the alternative – paper bags? I can fill those myself with tea? No, not really. To prevent paper from dissolving during tea brewing, most tea bags, both bleached and unbleached, are treated with epichlorohydrin, a component used in the production of epoxy and known to be carcinogenic. The worst part is that when it comes into contact with water, these substances break down and end up in your tea.
Tea Bags
But are there biodegradable tea bags? There are tea bags made from starch derived from crops like corn or sugar beets. They are called PLA, for PolyLactic Acid. Lactic acid is also known as milk acid and is referred to as bioplast. The tea bags break down when exposed to heat, i.e., in your teacup. However, many tea drinkers might be appalled to learn that such tea bags come from GMO PLA!
If you choose tea bags, it’s hard to select something good, whether it’s nylon, transparent “silk bags,” GMO-based corn starch, or paper bags with epichlorohydrin.
There are countless ways to brew tea without using tea bags, but the easiest is as follows: Take about three finger tips full of tea leaves directly into a mug and add water. It can be that simple.
Can anything go wrong? What’s the worst that can happen?
Leaves in your mouth? Just eat them; they’re healthy. If you choose whole leaves instead of chopped leaves, they will quickly sink to the bottom of your cup. But then the tea will be too strong! Just dilute it with more water. But if it steeps too long, the tea will become bitter! So buy a small, stainless steel strainer that fits your teacup. Or spend a little more money and buy good quality tea. That will be too expensive! Not if you brew the leaves several times throughout the day. Good tea leaves can often be used many times before they lose their flavor. Experiment!
Tea Leaves Brewed Directly in the Glass
I will always recommend buying your tea as loose leaves and brewing them directly in a cup or teapot. Then use a stainless steel strainer. It’s easy to acquire small, deep strainers that are specifically designed for this purpose and will last a lifetime. It’s better for us, and it spares the environment.
Brew Tea on the Go
Thermal Tea Glass
Tea Strainer for a Single Cup
[1] https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endokrine_system