Some tea bags may shed billions of microplastics per cup

Modern tea paraphernalia is stupid. Like those fancy woven strings that act like wicks and dribble tea down the side. It's hard to even find normal tea anymore. I ask for tea and people ask "what flavor." And I'm like "tea flavor." My Bangladeshi mom uses Lipton tea bags and a bit of milk. Should be good enough for everybody.

Re: Some tea bags may shed billions of microplastics per cup

#5

Post by DMac87 » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 4:38 PM UTC

magic_beans wrote: post #2

I wish they had reported the brands :/

This. How does one tell whether this affects a particular brand or not?

Re: Some tea bags may shed billions of microplastics per cup

#6

Post by droopyEyelids » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 4:40 PM UTC

Those fancy bags are called "sachets" in the tea world

Re: Some tea bags may shed billions of microplastics per cup

#7

Post by simias » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 4:40 PM UTC

Loose tea is often cheaper and of better quality in my experience. If you brew tea a lot using a reusable strainer seems like a much better choice. I'm also entirely convinced that these plastic pyramid-shaped bags are pure marketing. Then again, I find Lipton tea absolutely terrible regardless of the shape of the bag.

Re: Some tea bags may shed billions of microplastics per cup

#8

Post by ljcn » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 4:40 PM UTC

sleavey wrote: post #3

Plastic tea bags aside, I was shocked to learn that many paper tea bags still use plastic glue [1], which can contaminate compost. [1] https://www.countryliving.com/uk/create/food-and-drink/news/...

30+ brands compared:

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/there-plastic-my-...

The best advice is drink loose-leaf.

Re: Some tea bags may shed billions of microplastics per cup

#9

Post by jszymborski » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 4:40 PM UTC

sleavey wrote: post #3

Plastic tea bags aside, I was shocked to learn that many paper tea bags still use plastic glue [1], which can contaminate compost. [1] https://www.countryliving.com/uk/create/food-and-drink/news/...

I guess diffusers/loose tea it is. I just hate how annoying they are to clean with some of the finer black teas.

Re: Some tea bags may shed billions of microplastics per cup

#10

Post by simias » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 4:42 PM UTC

DMac87 wrote: post #5

magic_beans wrote: post #2

I wish they had reported the brands :/

This. How does one tell whether this affects a particular brand or not?

If I understand correctly you can easily spot those types of bags. Instead of paper they look like a fine plastic mesh. Lipton uses them in their pyramid-shaped sachets.