Tea bag packaging plays an important role in protecting the flavors and quality of the tea leaves. Tea bags are made of which materials? Let’s explore it in this article.

tea bags are made of which materials
Tea bags are made of which materials?

Introduction

Choosing the right material is essential in product development and is associated with the business’s purposes and strategies. The kind of packaging materials will have a direct impact on the tea’s flavor, brewing, and storing methods. Tea bag materials are diverse, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

What are tea bags?

Tea bags are widely used today thanks to their convenience and diverse flavors. They are small and porous bags, usually filled with tea leaves or blends, which are portable and perfect for a hectic lifestyle. Tea bags are considered a modern and convenient alternative to traditional loose-leaf tea, providing a quick solution without the need for other equipment. 

To prepare, they are steeped in hot water to release flavors and tastes. People can enjoy the tea directly, mix it with sweeteners, or use the tea base for further recipes. There are many types of tea bags’ materials, shapes, and uses, depending on taste preferences or environmental concerns. 

what are tea bags
Tea bags are steeped in hot water to release flavors

What are the most common tea bag materials?

Filter paper

Filter paper, usually a blend of wood and vegetable fiber, is one of the oldest and most popular materials used to pack tea bags. 

Advantages

One of the biggest advantages of filter paper tea bags is their price. They are cheap to produce and buy, which makes them an economical choice for producers and consumers. The paper material also makes it easy for water to flow through tea bags and speed up the brewing process. Besides, as paper tea bags are so popular, customers can easily find them anywhere with various flavors. They are also easy to print, which is ideal for branding purposes. 

Disadvantages

Paper tea bags are usually not suitable for whole-leaf tea, because their space restriction may prevent the leaves from fully expanding. In addition, some low-quality paper tea bags may alter the flavors of brewed tea. Moreover, many paper tea bags are not fully biodegradable because of the polypropylene used during heat sealing. They can be easily broken or torn if handled improperly. 

Paper tea bags
Paper tea bags

Silk

Silk tea bags are often linked to specialty or premium teas. This material is usually used to make pyramid tea bags with the aim of bringing a better brewing experience. 

Advantages

With an appealing appearance, transparent silk tea bags allow drinkers to see what is inside, providing a luxury feeling. The silk material promotes better water flow, enabling a fuller and more flavorful infusion. Moreover, tea bags made of silk are more long-lasting and less likely to break, making it perfect for whole-leaf or high-quality tea bags. 

Disadvantages

Because of the better quality, silk tea bags generally cost more, which might be challenging for small and medium businesses or budget-conscious customers. Even though they are called silk tea bags, many are produced from non-biodegradable synthetic materials, such as nylon or PET. Therefore, it might be misleading for those looking for an eco-friendly product. 

Silk tea bags
Silk tea bags

Nylon

Nylon is a food-grade plastic material that is safe when interacting with food and drinks. They are created to resist high temperatures without leaking toxic substances. 

Advantages

Durability is one of the outstanding advantages of nylon tea bags. Because of the strength and heat resistance of nylon, it has a higher durability and is less likely to tear while steeping. Nylon tea bags also do not contain an aftertaste, which does not affect the tea flavor. Additionally, the flexible nylon material allows the tea leaves to expand more easily to achieve full flavors. Tea bags made of nylon are usually see-through, so the ingredients can easily be seen. 

Disadvantages

Nylon is a plastic, which is non-biodegradable and compostable, making it a concern for environmentally conscious manufacturers and consumers. Once released into the environment, it will take a long time to fully decompose. Although food-grade plastic is considered safe, many people still worry about the potential risks of microplastics which can be released into tea when exposed to hot water. 

Nylon tea bags
Nylon tea bags

Others

Polylactic acid (PLA)

PLA, usually used for pyramid tea bags, is getting more popular because of the increasing demand for biodegradable material. It is produced from the lactic fermentation of glucose, obtained from corn starch, making it an excellent option for environmentally friendly packaging. PLA can also withstand heat and provides great water flow like nylon or silk. However, it is not an economical choice, compared to many other tea bag materials. Its durability is not too high; therefore, it needs to be stored carefully to prevent moisture from absorbing and weakening it.

PLA tea bags
PLA tea bags

Non-woven fabric

Non-woven fabrics are composed of natural or synthetic fibers, connected without weaving or knitting. This material is reasonably priced, non-polluting, and has a high breathability. Hot water can easily go through its texture, bringing a good infusion of the tea leaves. In addition, non-woven fabric tea bags have superior strength. Even when immersed in hot water for a long time, they can protect the tea inside and do not easily tear or break. 

When brewed in boiled water, non-woven fabric will not release any poisonous or dangerous properties. However, as some contain synthetic materials, many people are still concerned about their potential risks to human health and the environment. Compared to traditional paper tea bags, non-woven fabric tea bags are less common and have a higher cost. 

Non-woven fabric tea bags
Non-woven fabric tea bags

How to choose the best tea bag materials?

When determining the best material for your tea bags, there are many factors you should take into account. Depending on your business’s strategies and purposes, you should consider the cost, influence on tea flavor, durability, health safety, and environmental impact of the tea bag materials. 

Cost – If the product cost is the biggest concern of your business, paper tea bags may be an ideal option. They are generally cheaper and more popular, compared to other materials. On the other hand, silk or non-woven fabric will be suitable for premium tea with higher quality and price. 

Flavor quality – For finely ground teas, such as dust or fannings, paper tea bags are often used, as they do not need much room for expansion. However, paper material can slightly affect the tea flavor when exposed to hot water. Meanwhile, silk, nylon, and PLA are often applied for whole-leaf tea because they will not affect the tea flavor. 

Durability – Nylon, silk, or PLA materials are strong and durable, perfect for long steeping without worrying about tearing or breaking. On the contrary, paper is more fragile and suitable for teas that need short brewing time. 

Health safety – If health concern is your biggest priority, opt for unbleached paper or plant-based PLA. There are still many worries about the possible microplastics or chemical leaking from synthetic materials when brewing tea bags at high temperatures. 

Environmental impact – Paper and PLA materials are biodegradable and more environmentally friendly. Meanwhile, nylon and PET bags are believed to contribute to plastic waste as they are not compostable. 

About Future Generation Co., Ltd

We are FGC, the leading tea and beverage exporter in Vietnam and one of the biggest tea suppliers in the world. Our tea products are diverse in types, grades, and production methods. We provide customers with Loose tea (such as Black tea, Green tea, and Oolong tea), Herbal tea (such as Rose tea, Chamomile tea, and Lotus tea), and Specialty tea (such as Matcha), RTD Tea, and Tea Bags. Our mission is to become Vietnam’s leading healthy beverage company.

We ensure stable tea sources for domestic markets and exports with vast high-grown tea farms and available herb gardens. Our tea gardens and factories also meet international standards such as ISO, HACCP, KOSHER, HALAL, etc. In addition, we constantly innovate our machinery system, strengthen production capacity, and increase productivity. We also provide private label and customized packaging services for small and medium enterprises. 

If you are a tea distributor, tea importer, teashop manager, or even tea lover, we are committed to being your prestigious tea source supplier in Vietnam!

Contact

Address: R4 building, Office Quarter 02, Royal City, 72A Nguyen Trai St., Thanh Xuan Dist., Hanoi.

Phone: +84 24 73 000 125/ +84 24 73 063 369

Mail: info@vietnam-tea.com

Website: https://vietnam-tea.com/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fgcvietnamtea  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fgcvietnamtea/

Sources:

https://www.spackmachine.com/exploring-10-common-tea-bag-packaging-materials-spack/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_bag

 

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