If you are a tea enthusiast, your daily cup of tea might be serving you more than just warmth. Recent studies have raised concerns over the materials used in some tea bags, revealing that a single bag steeped in boiling water can release harmful plastic particles into your tea.
Many popular tea bags are made from polypropylene, a form of plastic that is used in sealing the bag and keeping it intact. The plastic can break down when exposed to high temperatures during steeping, thus possibly contaminating your drink with microplastics. Scientists have just begun to research the long-term health effects of ingesting microplastics, which they warn may be harmful to human health due to inflammation and damage to organs.
What is even scarier is that some tea bags are sold under the label as biodegradable or eco-friendly, but it may still contain plastics. It is not just an issue of individual health risks but also environmental impact since these plastic-rich bags do not easily break down, thus producing more plastic wastes.
So, what is the way out? Opting for loose leaf tea or tea bags that are made of natural compostable materials like cotton, hemp, or paper reduces your plastic intake. Now, with awareness being spread and raised, the brands are looking for greener alternatives and so it’s not a hard job for consumers to enjoy plastic-free tea experience.
