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Some tea bags may shed billions of microplastics per cup

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

#31

Post by thinkingemote »

londons_explore wrote: post #12
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/...

There really aren't many glues which are compostable, non-plastic, non-toxic and can withstand 10 minutes of boiling water.

There are not many types of tea which should be infused for ten minutes! Most "builders tea" in the UK get less than a minute, most just get dunked to colour the milk. The instructions say around three minutes. Loose leaf tea should be between three and five or more depending on grade.

However I did note that the plastic tea bags get in the cups in the USA for longer as the water is lower temperature. It appears as if American baristas use coffee brewing temperature for the teas so a customer has to leave the tea bag in for the length of the drink.

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

#32

Post by dragontamer »

simias wrote: post #26
dragontamer wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Loose tea is often cheaper and of better quality in my experience. This is indeed my experience as well. Still, the convenience factor of Lipton tea cannot be understated. I'm personally willing to bring in my own tea, metal strainers + teaspoon measurement to my workplace for example (hot-water is usually available in most offices). But that's probably too much for a lot of people. In contrast, you can usually get…

I've been using these tea balls in office environments: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51mTZ1eURrL... In terms of convenience I don't think it's significantly worse than sachets. But yeah, I do buy my own tea and store it in my drawer.

I have about 3 different devices, all of which seem to work well.

1. A device identical to your picture.

2. This "other" tea ball: https://i.imgur.com/Hg0mWFl.jpg

3. Tea "infuser". Similar to this one (but a different brand): https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41QJxs18f1L... . This is the bulkiest option though, and you still need another cup to transfer the liquid to.

My favorite tool is #1: the "springy clasp ball on the end of a stick". So I can recommend that to everyone over the other two devices. #2 isn't bad, but there's a lot of convenience factor to #1's spring design.

> In terms of convenience I don't think it's significantly worse than sachets.

In making tea, no, not much difference. But I dislike cleaning metal-meshes. Cleaning is a minor inconvenience... but if you've ever just used a paper-cup + Lipton tea bag and just trash everything when you're done... lol. Lazy lifestyle (but wasteful).

But yeah, its probably better for the environment to have these reusable tools, like a coffee mug.

---------

By the way, Lipton does sell loose tea, if you're a fan of Lipton. But I live near a tea / coffee shop with superior teas at low prices, so I just grab what they have instead.

As far as store-bought tea is concerned, Twinings is tasty and widely available. I'd take Twinings > Lipton any day. Lipton is slightly cheaper, but Twinings really does taste better.

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

#33

Post by diffeomorphism »

rayiner wrote: post #4

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.

> And I'm like "tea flavor."

Even if you are a "flavored tea or herbal teas are not tea"-snob, that does not tell me whether you want black tea or green tea.

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

#34

Post by vorpalhex »

windsurfer wrote: post #22
londons_explore wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There really aren't many glues which are compostable, non-plastic, non-toxic and can withstand 10 minutes of boiling water.

Egg whites?

That sounds like a bacterial nightmare for a product that's going to sit in a mostly airtight container for months.

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

#36

Post by bArray »

rayiner wrote: post #4

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.

Eh, I used to think the same thing about coffee, but here I am with a grinder and a plunger. Instant coffee is okay at a push, but the taste improvement is massive, especially when grinding your own coffee (you can actually taste the flavours they claim to put in there).

As for tea flavours, the difference is usually just the addition of herbs and spices.

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

#37

Post by eyo2019 »

rayiner wrote: post #4

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.

You sound really smart in your other comments usually, but this comment is dumb and dumber. Who cares what tea people drink? Why did you have to get so mean about tea? Are you having a bad day? Seriously, life is too short to get angry over some fancy teas.

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

#38

Post by srbby »

NietTim wrote: post #23
londons_explore wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There really aren't many glues which are compostable, non-plastic, non-toxic and can withstand 10 minutes of boiling water.

Are staples bad for compost? I've had some teabags that used staples, they worked fine for the purpose

Staples can't be microwaved. Yes I know, you can microwave the cup and then put the bags in, but some people make that mistake and (rightly) freak out when they see the fireworks.

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

#39

Post by mikestew »

rayiner wrote: post #4

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.

My Bangladeshi mom uses Lipton tea bags and a bit of milk.

I hope that wasn't an appeal to some kind of authority. All that tells me is that some Bangladeshi women have even worst taste in tea than this ignorant American. There's quite a wide gulf between not wanting to consume the least common denominator and making a lifestyle out of it. As for flavors, just because one's view says tea should only come in one flavor doesn't mean reality has to agree.

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

#40

Post by SamReidHughes »

rayiner wrote: post #4

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.

Milk ruins it. I drink my tea with shards of glass.
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