The invention and origin of tea bags

The earliest invention of the tea bag was by a tea merchant named Thomas Sullivan when he was looking for a way to reduce the cost of sending loose tea samples. His concept of small tea-filled silk bags brought instant convenience to sampling as they could be brewed immediately.

Herbal Tea Bag Categories & Comparisons

Currently there are five primary materials used for herbal tea bags on the market: cotton, paper, PET, PLA, nylon, and non-woven synthetic fibres. What many people want to know is if toxic substances dissolve after brewing in hot water. Due to the government’s current food safety regulations, the materials used to produce tea bags will not dissolve into toxic substances, but when choosing a tea box for herbal tea, it is still necessary to carefully understand the material of the tea bags provided.

PET：

Polyethylene terephthalate, or PET for short, has no added plasticizer during the manufacturing process, it is only needed for other commonly used PVC. Although PET bags will not dissolve, it cannot withstand water temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Therefore, it is recommended not to use boiling water when using herbal tea bags made of PET.

PLA：

PLA (AKA polylactide), which is more friendly to the environment, is also called “corn fibre”. PLA is acid and alkali resistant, high in transparency, light weight, and has a higher heat resistance than PET. After PLA is discarded, it can be decomposed into carbon dioxide and water by microorganisms in soil or seawater under certain conditions.

Non-woven fabrics:

Non-woven fabric used to make tea bags is essentially a cloth produced by various raw and synthetic fibres with high pressure or adhesive cord. However, it is unknown which chemical fibres are used in the manufacturing process of non-woven fabrics. Non-woven fabrics can withstand high temperatures, and no plasticizers are used in the production principle. But what needs to be paid attention to is whether bleach or fluorescent agents are used in non-woven fabrics.

Nylon:

The chemical name of nylon is polyamide (AKA: PA), and the main colour is milky white or light yellow. The advantage of nylon is the durability, but the disadvantage is that the heat resistance is not high, which is lower than that of PET. If the temperature of the water is too high during brewing, harmful substances may be released.

Cotton and Paper:

Cotton and paper are traditional tea bag materials, which easily decompose and are considered to be environmentally friendly. However, PAE wet strength agents or epichlorohydrin may be added to increase durability, therefore, it is important to pay attention to possible bleach residues.

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How to make herbal tea bags?

There are many sellers of herbal tea bags on the market and the prices vary according to the materials used. Compared with reusable materials, some people will wash them once after purchase to remove potential dust or plastic odours that remain from production.

Things to pay attention to when making homemade herbal tea bags

• Herbal Tea Recipe

There are many combinations of herbal teas. If you make your own, you must confirm that the properties of the mixed plants do not conflict with each other. For example, flowers and plants that warm the body are not suitable to combine with herbs that reduce heat. If you don’t know how to appropriately mix, you can refer to industry expert recommendations and adjust it to your favourite ratio. (Further reading: The herbal tea that Chinese medicine practitioners drink! Natural way to maintain beauty!)

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• Does the material of tea bags contain chemicals?
  

Whenever self-prepared products are concerned, it is necessary to pay attention to the materials used to prevent the possibility of harmful substances releasing into your brew. For the material of herbal tea bags, please refer to the classification in the content of this article.

• Shelf life and quantity of flowers and plants
  

Regardless of intended use, dried herbs are prone to spoilage and even mould when exposed to high levels of humidity. In addition, be careful not to overfill your homemade herbal tea bags as they will expand during the brewing process. It is necessary to allow for an appropriate amount of space so that the flowers and plants can be unfolded to release full nutritional value.

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Advantages of triangular three-dimensional tea bags

The three key points for purchasing herbal tea bags are: convenience, safety, and space. Combining these three points, the triangular three-dimensional herbal tea bag is the best option. Herbs brewed in triangular three-dimensional tea bags are usually more complete than flat tea bags for the simple reason of expansion during the brewing process.

1. Three-dimensional brewing herbal tea

Using a three-dimensional triangular tea bag for brewing helps avoid crowding of herbal tea blends, allowing each individual particle to properly soak, resulting in maximum flavour, aroma, and nutritional value. In addition, triangular tea bags are completely transparent, enabling you to see the ingredients, which subsequently enhances intrigue and certainty.

2. Repeated herbal tea brews

High-quality herbal tea bags can help retain the aroma of herbal tea even after brewing 2-3 times. Most of the tea leaves contained in the triangular three-dimensional tea bag can be drunk repeatedly.

3. Breathable, compressible, and portable

Triangular herbal tea bags have high air permeability and are easy to carry once compressed. You can quickly enjoy a cup of good tea within a few literal seconds!

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ABoxTik gives you the Best Herbal Tea Bag

In the world of herbal tea bags, diverse brands offer various packaging options, including triangles, envelopes, and flats. Materials like cotton, paper, PET, PLA, and nylon ensure safe brewing under government regulations. Tea bags were pioneered by Thomas Sullivan, who sought cost-effective ways to send samples. Today, materials like PET are free of plasticizers, PLA is eco-friendly, non-woven fabric is heat-resistant, and nylon is durable. Creating homemade tea bags involves matching plant properties and selecting safe materials. Triangular bags bring complete infusion, re-brewing potential, and portability. They’re breathable and compact, perfect for tea on-the-go.

To learn more about our Herbal Tea Bag collection, head over to the ABoxTik page and explore the possibilities!