Here are 5 reasons to don’t drink tea bags:
For many of us, our first experience with tea is through a tea bag. However, to fully explore the world of tea, you should try loose leaf. There are several reasons to avoid tea bags when preparing tea, and we’ll discuss a few of them here.
The first and most important point
- Tea bag tend to contain much lower-quality leaves than loose-leaf tea.
- In order to get large tea leaves into a tea bag, they have to be broken down.
- 5 Reasons to Avoid Tea Bags
- A tea bag is often our first experience with tea, but to fully enjoy tea, you need to try loose leaf.
- As a result, they will lose many essential oils that give tea its complex flavors and aromas.
- A producer catering to a premium market with high-quality tea would never use these leaves in a tea bag.
- Hence, the finest teas worldwide are crafted for loose-leaf consumption.
- Tea bags are designed for casual tea drinkers and are mass-produced with cheaper leaves.
- They can be made from later harvests with fewer nutrients or contain older leaves, stems, and other plant material.
- The flavors of loose leaf and tea bags couldn’t be more different.
- Even with high-quality leaves, a tea bag isn’t an effective way to brew tea.
- When they are cramped inside a small space like a tea bag, the flavor becomes weaker.
This is the second main reason to avoid using a tea bag.
- You should prepare loose leaf tea in a teapot like this to give the leaves more space to open up.
- You can then just pour out the teapot, and the built-in filter will help keep the leaves out of your cup.
- Many people think you have to drink the leaves with loose leaf tea, but there are tools to filter them out.
- The simplest alternative is to use a metal strainer instead of a tea bag.
- However, this approach won’t offer as much space, leading to a slightly milder flavor.
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ToggleAnother reason to avoid using tea bags is that they can affect the flavor of the drink.
- Remember, when you use a tea bag to make tea.
- Pouring hot water onto the paper and plastic also occurs.
- This is why many tea bags have a cardboard taste.
- which comes from both low-quality tea leaves and the paper in the bag.
- In addition to paper, most tea bags are sealed together with a plastic-based glue.
- This glue can be easily dissolved by water, particularly hot water.
- Additionally, staples and string in the tea bag can also affect the flavor negatively.
- To avoid these materials, stick to the traditional method: use a clay teapot, water, and leaves.
- The materials in tea bags aren’t only detrimental to flavor,
- They’re also harmful to the environment.
The fourth reason not to drink tea bags is that they’re an environmental disaster.
- In Britain alone, people drink an estimated 100 million cups of tea daily, with 96% using tea bags.
- That amounts to as many as 35 billion tea bags disposed of each year.
- These tea bags often contain harmful plastics, metal staples, and string, not just paper.
- Many tea bags are individually wrapped, adding to the waste.
- Switching to loose-leaf tea is a great way to cut down on this excess waste.
- Loose leaf tea is more efficient in terms of packaging and can be composted after use.
The fifth and final reason to not use tea bags is that they cannot be reused as easily.
- Because tea bags are so finely chopped, they are designed to infuse quickly and release everything in the first brew.
- When you try reusing these tea bags after they’ve been brewed once, you end up with an extremely watery flavor.
- Loose leaf tea, however, can be reused multiple times.
- Some teas can even taste better the second or third time around.
- like the fukumushi sencha, which becomes an even more vibrant shade of green with stronger vegetable-tasting notes.
- This also reduces the cost per cup.
- If you want to compare the prices of loose leaf tea and tea bag tea, you should consider the cost per serving.
- You have to consider that a tea bag only contains two grams of actual tea, and it needs to be thrown out after one brewing.
- Loose-leaf tea, on the other hand, can be used three to five times.
- so that a 100-gram pack of tea can be used to make 150 to 250 equivalent cups with a much better flavor.
That being said, we recommend using 5 grams of leaves and a smaller amount of water to concentrate the brewing and create a more powerful flavor profile.You can still get 60 to 100 great-tasting cups of tea when you use this method.
FAQ
Loose leaf tea is the best alternative to tea bags, offering better flavor and quality. You can also consider tea infusers, tea strainers, and biodegradable tea bags.
Not all tea bags are created equal. Some brands are now producing biodegradable tea bags made from plant-based materials, which are better for the environment.
Start by purchasing a variety of loose leaf teas to find your favorites. Invest in a good quality tea infuser or strainer, and follow the recommended brewing instructions for each type of tea.
Yes, some companies have started producing biodegradable tea bags made from materials like cornstarch or other plant-based fibers. These are a more environmentally friendly option.
Many people find that loose leaf tea has a superior flavor and aroma compared to bagged tea. The larger leaves used in loose leaf tea often provide a richer, more complex taste.