Some tea bags may shed billions of microplastics per cup • Hacker News Board

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

#51

Post by theobeers » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:27 PM UTC

AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #24

I drink a decent amount of tea, and I feel like this is largely confined to the mid-grade teas that are fancier than your basic Lipton or Twinings, but not-so-fancy as to be loose-leaf. I'm thinking specifically of stuff like Harney and Sons, that you often see for sale at your nearest B&N or Starbucks: https://www.amazon.com/Harney-Sons-Hot-Cinnamon-Spice/dp/B00... I also see grocery-store versions at Target and suc…

This kind of “silken” sachet is what you get when you buy sachets from Harney, but they also sell a lot of loose-leaf. I would even say that’s closer to the original core of their business. I used to order big bags of hot cinnamon spice, a decade or so ago.

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

#52

Post by buckminster » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:27 PM UTC

Some of these fancy bags (e.g. from tea pigs) are made from polylactic acid. This is derived from corn starch and used in temporary medical implants (it degrades to lactic acid) so hopefully it's safe.

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

#53

Post by roboys » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:27 PM UTC

simias wrote: post #7

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.

My buddy used to work for Lipton. He explained that they use the cheapest grade of tea (dust) available. Also many tea companies mix non-tea additives (fillers) to their tea bags.

After hearing this I decided, if it's not full loose leaf, I don't drink it. We found that companies like Elephant Chateau (http://elephantchateau.com) deliver the 3 highest grades of tea direct from Ceylon mountain estates with the option for plant-based pyramid bags (soilon) or a free stainless steel infuser.

Bonus, the tea actually tastes like tea and is tasty enough to drink plain unlike Lipton dust. It always funny to hear people promote all the health benefits of tea then turn around and dump 100 grams of sugar into a cup to make it palatable.

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

#54

Post by ciconia » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:28 PM UTC

One should also mention that tea is an imported good in most developed countries. It's externalities and environmental impact go far beyond microplastics.

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

#55

Post by SolaceQuantum » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:30 PM UTC

dragontamer wrote: post #21

simias wrote: post #7

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.

> 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 buy my own tea bags, paper with a string, and fill it myself.

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

#56

Post by jimclegg » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:30 PM UTC

lefty2 wrote: post #41

AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #24

I drink a decent amount of tea, and I feel like this is largely confined to the mid-grade teas that are fancier than your basic Lipton or Twinings, but not-so-fancy as to be loose-leaf. I'm thinking specifically of stuff like Harney and Sons, that you often see for sale at your nearest B&N or Starbucks: https://www.amazon.com/Harney-Sons-Hot-Cinnamon-Spice/dp/B00... I also see grocery-store versions at Target and suc…

Don't be too sure. Even the paper tea bags have been found to contain plastic: https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/food-drink/barrys-tea-p...

They also contain traces of the bleach used to whiten them from what I understand.

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

#57

Post by graeme » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:31 PM UTC

ljcn wrote: post #35

I wonder how this compares to the several grams of plastic per week consumed from drinking water. https://phys.org/news/2019-06-consume-credit-card-worth-plas...

That's disturbing. Can any consumer grade filters remove plastics that small?

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

#58

Post by okcando » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:31 PM UTC

mikestew wrote: post #43

Ugh, yet another "hmm, never thought of that" thing to worry about, but it comes at a good time. I was just giving thought to going to back to loose leaf and a tea ball as I was preparing some Trader Joe's Earl Grey that comes in an individual plastic wrapper, along with a string and a bag, and whatever else. For a cup of tea. I'm one step away from a Kuerig. Other brands in the cupboard aren't a whole lot better on…

I've been trying to avoid groceries that come with single-use plastic and it's tough. Grapes and cherry tomatoes come in plastic bags or cartons, even at salt-of-the-earth type places. Meat or cheese from the deli gets a zip lock. There's no way to use the olive bar without grabbing a plastic carton, in various sizes.

I wouldn't have even suspected the tea bags themselves. I assume some of them are still made with natural fibers but how would you know?

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

#59

Post by mikestew » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:32 PM UTC

jolmg wrote: post #48

mikestew wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 flavo…

> than this ignorant American I can't see rayiner giving any indication that they were American, though.

No, I'm the ignorant American. Lipton is suitable only for iced tea. Then again, maybe Lipton is fine and I just don't like orange pekoe tea.

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

#60

Post by windsurfer » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:32 PM UTC

vorpalhex wrote: post #34

windsurfer wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Egg whites?

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

Even when dried and set? I'm having a lot of trouble finding info on the safety of it in food online, but it seems like egg whites have been used for centuries as a glue for a whole bunch of things.