Are you a tea drinker? Then you need to read this.
Alert: Did you know that many popular tea brands of regular, green tea, or herbal teas, use tea bags that contain micro plastics that can leach into your cup of tea when steeped in hot water? I had no idea and it could be serious.
Scary, right?
What bothers me most is how little we’re told about what’s really in the food and products we buy every day. So many ingredients and materials are used behind the scenes, and consumers are often left completely in the dark. Who would ever be weary of our tea bags?
I used to think we could fully trust the Food and Drug Administration to protect us from things like this… but the more I learn, the more I realize we have to become our own detectives when it comes to what we put in our bodies.
My son mentioned to me that he read about the teabags containing plastic that is released into our tea when we add hot water.
I did some research and found out that it's true. Teabags contain micro plastics. I am not an expert on this subject because I just learned about it myself, but there is a ton of information out there on Youtube and the Internet for you to learn more.
Why Micro Plastics Are Not Good For Our Health
When a simple paper tea bag contains hidden plastic, boiling water can release a significant amount of microplastics and nanoplastics into your tea—and you end up drinking them.
Microplastics are a concern because they may:
build up in the body over time
increase inflammation
disrupt hormones and gut health
carry or absorb toxic chemicals
add to overall toxic exposure, especially for daily tea drinkers
If you’re drinking tea for health, you don’t want it coming with a hidden dose of plastic.
Plastic-Free Tea Bag Brands (at the time of my research)
If you want to avoid microplastics in tea bags, these brands are known for using plastic-free, compostable materials:
Pukka Herbs (plastic-free, organic cotton string)
Clipper Tea (plant-based, biodegradable bags)
Teapigs (plastic-free pyramid bags made from cornstarch)
Traditional Medicinals (plastic-free, compostable tea bags)
Numi Organic Tea (abaca leaf fiber tea bags)
Stash Tea (unbleached, compostable-style tea bags)
Republic of Tea (paper tea bags, no plastic mesh)
📌 Always double-check packaging, since materials can change over time.
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☕ Brands That May Contain Plastic
Tazo — commonly cited as having plastic tea bags.
Teavana (Starbucks) — reported to use plastic or plastic-based filters.
Celestial Seasonings — their traditional bags contain polypropylene or nylon.
Mighty Leaf Teas — known to use plastic or nylon sachets.
PG Tips — uses PLA or plastic-based sealed bags (still may release microplastics).
Tetley — PLA/plastic tea bags reported (note: brand has been transitioning and their teabags may soon be plastic free. you need to check )
Twinings — PLA/plastic material in many tea bag formats.
Yorkshire Tea — some tea bags contain polypropylene (plastic).
Important: Some companies are actively switching to plant-based or biodegradable materials — but many of these still use PLA (a plant-based plastic) or plastic sealing to bind the bag, and that can release microplastics when steeped in boiling water. You need to research the brands.
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⚠️ A Note on PLA and Other “Bioplastic” Materials
Even if a tea bag is marketed as biodegradable or plant-based, it may still contain materials like PLA (a plant-based plastic) or other polymers — and research shows these can also shed tiny particles when hot.
📌 Best Way to Avoid Microplastics
The most reliable way to skip microplastics from tea bags is to brew loose-leaf tea using a metal or ceramic infuser — that way the only things in your cup are the tea leaves and hot water
Disclaimer: The information in this and all my blogposts are for educational purposes only and based on my own experience and findings. I am not an authority and you should do your own research.
Highly Recommend to Watch - It's not just teabags
I found this excellent video on Youtube ( I am not endorsing it- I just watched it and am sharing what I watched) that goes over the micro plastics in our kitchen in addition to and including teabags. It's 15 minutes and I recommend you watch it to better inform yourself and understand better.
What do you think? Did you know about teabags and other products that we use that contain micro plastics that we end up ingesting? - such as most canned food. All I can say is that I had no idea.
If you can stand to watch more, this video shows the results of independent testing on various tea brands and the amount of not only plastics but high levels of pesticides and harmful toxins... worth watching too.
I stopped using tea bags a few years ago. Only ever use loose leaf now. If I need to use tea bags then I get plastic free. I bought some muslin tea bags so I can take them on holiday with me :-D I love blending my own teas :-D
ReplyDeleteWow! That is amazing to know. Luckily, my herbal tea is from Traditional Medicine which you say has no plastic. That makes me very happy. I have enough problems w/o adding to them.
ReplyDeletePlastic is everywhere...just horrible. I was a heavy tea drinker until 5 or 6 years ago when I learned that tea contains quite a lot of oxalate, and I always used tea leaves..that's how I grew up with. Now I just drink water...probably should buy water in glass, instead of in plastic bottles though. It's too darn heavy to carry them home...
ReplyDeleteWe lose so much for 'convenience' and most people don't realise what they're drinking or eating.
ReplyDeleteI may have accidentally sent a half-finished comment. Feel free to delete it.
ReplyDeleteLoose leaf when ever possible! But I really appreciate the two lists, because sometimes a bag is the only option. Thank you Judee.
ReplyDeleteSo much contains plastic these days! Scary!
ReplyDeleteI used to have tea bags......ye, scary of plastic.
ReplyDeleteI did hear about this years ago from a friend in Europe. They let me know that my Twinnings tea was probably contributing to my inflammation because of the micro plastics in the tea bags. I try to buy loose leaf teas now from the Amish store a few towns over now when I'm near there. But admit that I do still occasionally reach for my Darjeeling tea because it's a bad habit to break.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting. I had no idea!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, is there anything that plastic is NOT in? It’s getting to be a bit ridiculous. I tend to only use loose tea these days because I like to mix and match different types to make my own customizable flavor. I didn’t realize, in the doing, that I was keeping yet more plastics out of my system.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an important wake-up call for tea lovers! It’s alarming to realize that something as simple as a tea bag could release microplastics into your cup, especially for those of us who drink tea daily for comfort and health. Your research and suggestions for plastic-free brands, as well as the loose-leaf alternative, are really practical tips to protect ourselves while still enjoying a beloved ritual.
ReplyDeleteI’ve shared the first post for the Movement Link-Up to encourage everyone to join, and it will remain open until Monday, so there’s still time to share your post.
There are plastics in so many things.
ReplyDeleteI have been using clipper tea for some time now - in unbleached tea bags.
All the best Jan
I shouldn't be surprised... But I'm still disappointed. Tea is seen as such a pure, healthy thing, and yet it's being sold in a way that's terrible for people and the environment. It's a slap in the face! I do appreciate you spreading awareness, it's something most people don't stop to consider.
ReplyDeleteYes, I did know this and I'm soooo annoyed by it. Beyond annoyed, really. I am thankful for the other teas that don't but even those concern me because really, I have no idea what's truly in what. Like back in the day when plastic rice was being sold. Crazy. That's why when I move, I'll be making more of my own dried herbs for tea. For now, dried cranberries made into a powder are excellent. Same with ginger, orange, lemon, turmeric and all that kinda stuff.
ReplyDeleteI do love tea and it's sad that there are plastics, even dirt and who knows what else in many products.
ReplyDeleteI don't drink tea very often but I use Trader Joe's green tea when I do and I just googled that they too have microplastics. I used to use Bigelow and turns out they do not use microplastics so I will be switching back. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJudee, thank you for your thorough coverage of this important topic. I've known of this for a very long time, but I've always preferred loose leaf tea, so it doesn't often enter my thoughts. I do buy the occasional herbal tisane in teabag form from Traditional Medicinals, which is on the safe list. Loose leaf tea is far more economical and just as simple to use as teabags. I've posted about it on my blog many times, showing how easy it is. I think once people make the switch, they'll forego teabags most of the time. Again, thank you for giving such attention to this topic.
ReplyDeleteBack to say this is one of my features for this weekend's WTJR!
ReplyDeleteNot a tea drinker, but never thought about this before
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing at 399, now come and join our exciting 400th Celebration, and invite your friends and followers for a chance to be featured as one of our highlighted supporters!