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

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

#41

Post by lefty2 » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:16 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…

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...

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

#42

Post by emptybits » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:17 PM UTC

I hope this news tempts some convenience-tea drinkers to explore the incredible world of loose, whole leaf tea.

Many aromatic and delicious rabbit holes await you if you start to explore the original world of tea which is still very much alive and well.

All the styles and sub-styles of Chinese and Japanese teas are rewarding to prepare and serve and drink. Smaller footprint for processing, packaging, transport, storage, and waste.

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

#43

Post by mikestew » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:18 PM UTC

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 packaging.

And now plastic in my tea. The wife's got to have a tea strainer in here somewhere...

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

#44

Post by nicoburns » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:19 PM UTC

NeedMoreTea wrote: post #25

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.

Tea bag tea is much finer dust compared to loose leaf of the same brand. So it brews faster (and worse). They change the blend to try and compensate. Tried Liptons once. On our very first trip to the USA, we needed a decent cup of tea. Visited Walmart, bought really expensive pack of Liptons which I think was one of just a very few teas among millions of coffees. Made tea, instantly regretted it. Surprising consideri…

> Surprising considering it's from Unilever who make the UK's best seller: PG, which is OK but a bit weak.

Isn't PG generally considered to be one of the poorest quality teas available in the UK? (it sells well, but that's mostly because it's dirt cheap).

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

#45

Post by microcolonel » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:19 PM UTC

mikestew wrote: post #39

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 flavo…

Folgers instant is an adequate approximation of coffee. Accept it. :- )

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

#46

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:20 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…

[deleted]

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

#47

Post by microcolonel » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:20 PM UTC

Part of the reason I don't use sea salt at home. Here in Canada we can pump salt out of the ground and it's largely free of microplastics.

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

#48

Post by jolmg » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:23 PM UTC

mikestew wrote: post #39

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 flavo…

> than this ignorant American

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

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

#49

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 5:24 PM UTC

nicoburns wrote: post #44

NeedMoreTea wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tea bag tea is much finer dust compared to loose leaf of the same brand. So it brews faster (and worse). They change the blend to try and compensate. Tried Liptons once. On our very first trip to the USA, we needed a decent cup of tea. Visited Walmart, bought really expensive pack of Liptons which I think was one of just a very few teas among millions of coffees. Made tea, instantly regretted it. Surprising consideri…

> Surprising considering it's from Unilever who make the UK's best seller: PG, which is OK but a bit weak. Isn't PG generally considered to be one of the poorest quality teas available in the UK? (it sells well, but that's mostly because it's dirt cheap).

[deleted]

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

#50

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

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

Anecdotally, the "Waste Wizard" app in Toronto specifies that normal tea bags should be composted, nylon and silk tea bags go in the garbage. I've always assumed they know what they're talking about, so I expect the recycling/compost system here can handle the staples.