Tea bags, where did they come from and where are they now...?

Let's imagine a moment when true tea connoisseurs, who once said, "I'm on the side of the teapot in this war against tea bags," or "Shake everything else, but brew the tea," find themselves forced to drink tea bags when no one is watching. It happens; who among us hasn't found themselves in the middle of it, after vowing never to do it? Let's say you shook the tea; you're no longer an enemy of tea. At least, that doesn't apply to Lazika tea bags.

In this article, we want to talk a little about tea bags. Okay, you don't prefer tea bags, but what if your preferences change one day? And it's not just your preferences that change. You won't believe it, but even the tea bags used for tea bags have a quality class. Zero waste projects, a sustainable world, socially responsible investments – companies are now moving in a completely different direction. However, our topic is tea. We decided to give you a short and informative training session about the tea bags used for tea bags.

The Birth of Tea Bags

In 1908, a batch of tea leaves, intended to steep like any other tea by simply opening up and releasing themselves in water, gave birth to tea bags—a Frankenstein-esque experiment—as a result of a misunderstanding of a cost-cutting tactic employed by a merchant named Thomas Sullivan.

Tea, sent in tiny silk bags, was supposed to be poured into the teapot by cutting the end of the bag, but it was mistakenly brewed with the bag intact. Isn't it true that many beneficial things come about by accident? Even though the idea wasn't well-received by those who argued that brewing tea required time and effort, its practicality made it very popular and widespread. But the story doesn't end there. These tea leaves aren't in silk bags anymore. Unfortunately, silk is much more valuable these days. It's crucial to increase the speed at which the tea's essence infuses into the water without compromising its quality, and to prevent the bag material from overpowering the tea's flavor during infusion.

Tea Bag Materials

Filter paper is one of the best-known and most cost-effective materials for tea bags. Because it's opaque, you can't fully see the quality of the tea without tearing the bag and spilling the tea leaves. Generally, what you drink in this type of tea is the leftover tea after the high-quality leaves have been harvested. So, in this case, the tea bag itself isn't to blame for the poor quality; it simply masks it visually.

As for muslin tea bags, they are a favorite among herbal tea lovers. They don't spoil the tea, they are durable, and they preserve its delicious flavors. Naturally, they are also expensive. This will, of course, be reflected in the price.

Tea bags, which are described as silky in appearance, are made of plastic, some of which is food-grade nylon or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). However, their melting points are around 250°C, and they are generally not considered harmful to health. But in the Atlantic, it has been observed that the molecules of these plastics begin to break down at a lower temperature (~76°C), releasing the toxins from the bags.

A silky smooth tea bag is a sought-after detail as it showcases the quality of the tea. But is a silky smooth tea bag impossible without polyethylene terephthalate (PET)? Of course it is.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biopolymer that we'll be hearing a lot about in the future. It might even replace plastic; we'll say, "We told you so!" Unlike PET plastic, this polymer is derived from corn cobs and doesn't have the health problems associated with it. As we've said, biopolymers will be more prevalent in our lives. There are other biopolymers, but our favorite (due to business reasons) is PLA. Because it's derived from corn cobs, it's a "biocompostable" material. Every new piece of information about this material will make you love it even more; for example, when a biocompostable material begins to decompose, it returns its valuable nutrients to the soil, trees, and nature.

The Advantage of Pyramid Bags

So, is it all about the material? Doesn't the shape of the tea bag matter? Of course it does! It defies the laws of physics. Don't say "no way," you'll understand the seriousness of this as you shake your tea. Travel all over the world, collect as many different brands of tea bags as you can, shake them all, even buy so many that you have to ask your friends and family for help, everyone pitches in, tear them up, shake them again and again. You've tried all the brands by the end, and now you're a full-time tea expert working from home. After your enlightenment, you realize that each tea bag is like a child of a mother, a unique individual. The rectangular one loves its old traditions but isn't closed to new things, prefers a simple life, and doesn't like being pretentious; the one with rounded shapes, on the other hand, seems to argue that inner beauty is what matters, likes to act awkward and quirky, is as charming as it is eager to mess things up. The pyramid-shaped teapot, on the other hand, is a true workhorse, ready to give everything useful, using the advantage of its shape; it's selfless and helpful. It doesn't get angry when its usefulness ends and readily accepts its retirement. It gently releases the hot water from a single point without burning anything around it. Truly, the pyramid shape is a blessing bestowed upon tea lovers.

Conclusion

I wanted to briefly share our knowledge about tea bags. Now, just to be polite, we hope you'll give tea bags a chance, since you're quite familiar with them.

👉 Click here to discover all our teas.

Rana @ Lazika