What to know about tea bags with vs without envelopes?

Have you ever seen tea bags with another package outside each bag? These are called tea bag envelopes and have some outstanding features.

Contents

Introduction

There is an increasing need for individually packaged food and drinks. Therefore, the use of tea envelopes to wrap tea bags individually is growing in popularity. What are tea bag envelopes, and how do they differ from bare tea bags? Let’s explore with FGC in this article.

What are tea bag envelopes?

Tea bag envelopes are individual sachets used to enclose the tea bags. They may come in folded or heat-sealable envelope format. Tea bags with envelopes are a helpful option for those who prefer a quick, fresh, and convenient tea bag anywhere, even at home or on the way. Since each small envelope contains a single tea bag, it is easy to bring along without worrying about tearing or affecting its quality. Because the tea bag is completely sealed, the tea’s freshness, aroma, and flavor are preserved nicely until you decide to open the bag.

Tea bag envelopes are usually made of two layers. Numerous materials of envelopes are available on the market, such as PET/PE, paper/PE, MOPP/MCPP, and PET/MCPP. FGC’s products currently use MOPP/MCPP and PET/MCPP envelopes. They are 2-layer envelopes, which have many advantages, such as great welding, heat sealing, and high-speed packaging capabilities. Besides, their air, temperature, moisture barrier, and light-blocking capabilities are satisfying. They can also protect the product’s aroma and organic solvents and can be opened easily. Moreover, these materials allow beautiful and high-quality prints, which can help with product promotion.

The quality of the tea bags inside the envelopes is the same as usual. To brew tea bags with envelopes, unwrap the envelope, take the tea bag inside, and steep it in hot water for 3-5 minutes or longer, depending on the tea type and your preference. Tea bag envelopes usually have high barrier properties to maintain the aroma for an extended time. Because moisture, air, or light cannot get inside the tea bags and cause spoiling, their shelf life is also increased.

Compare tea bags with and without envelopes

Packaging and freshness

Tea bags with envelopes are wrapped in protective packaging to protect the products from environmental impacts and lengthen their shelf lives. Meanwhile, tea bags without envelopes are more exposed to air and moisture, leading to freshness loss over time. Therefore, they might have a shorter shelf life and better storage.

tea bag with envelopes — Tea bag envelopes can keep the tea fresh longer

Hygiene and convenience

Since the tea bags are shielded from direct handling and environmental exposure, those with envelopes are more hygienic and better for communal or public usage. Besides, tea bags with envelopes are easier to carry, making them ideal for individual and on-the-way purposes. Meanwhile, those without envelopes are better used at home as they might tear during travel or need a separate container to bring along. For those who do not drink tea regularly and continuously, tea bags with envelopes are more convenient and easier to preserve.

Cost

Because each tea bag needs extra packaging, those with envelopes require a higher cost of raw materials, labor, and operation. Therefore, the price of a final product also increases. Tea bags without envelopes might be more financially friendly, especially for bulk buyers and frequent users.

tea bags without envelopes are cheaper — Tea bags without envelopes are often more cost-effective

Environmental impacts

More packaging used means more waste will be released into the environment, regardless of whether the packaging is made of paper, foil, or plastic. As a result, tea bags without envelopes seem to be more eco-friendly.

Aesthetic and promotional effects

Tea bags with envelopes have more space to print with appealing designs so that they might have a better branding effect. In addition, for gifting or premium experience, those with envelopes are often a better option.

Difference in packing tea bags with and without envelopes

At FGC’s manufacturing plants, raw material processing is the same in packing tea bags with and without envelope. Ingredients like tea leaves and herbs undergo several steps before packing, including harvesting, withering, crushing, drying, milling, and blending. The proportion of each ingredient depends on the recipes of each flavor. After blending well, the semi-finished products are put into machines and packed into tea bag packages.

Bare tea bags without envelopes are packed in tin bags, with 20 or 25 tea bags per package. After that, they are sealed and printed with the production and expiration dates. Each tin bag is weighed and checked to ensure the correct weight and tightness of the packaging. If the product does not meet the requirements, workers recount the tea bags, recheck the weight and tightness, and close the bag. The tin bags are put into boxes and wrapped with shrink film to increase preservation capacity.

On the other hand, each bare tea bag filled with raw materials is also packaged into heat seal envelopes. Then pack tea bags into paper boxes and print the production and expiration dates according to product specifications and regulations. Tea bags with envelope boxes are also wrapped with shrink film, packed in cartons, and stored in the warehouse.

packing tea bag with and without envelopes — Some differences in packaging tea bags with and without envelopes

Whom are tea bags with and without envelopes suitable for?

According to usage purposes, tea bags with or without envelopes are suitable for different objects.

Tea bags without envelopes are usually more cost-effective because of reduced packaging. Therefore, they are ideal for large purchases, such as in tea shops or regular tea drinkers. They are also perfect for individual use at home, where there are few hygienic concerns. Besides, tea bags without envelopes are an excellent option for those who care for environmental sustainability as it can minimize packing waste.

Meanwhile, tea bags with envelopes are more suitable for public environments, like restaurants, hotels, or offices, where cleanliness comes first. The outer envelopes can maintain freshness and prevent contamination. Thanks to the small size, tea bags with envelopes are easy to carry, making them an ideal choice if you want to enjoy fresh tea bags while traveling. As tea bag envelopes help the product inside to stay fresh for longer, they are suitable for those who want to consume the tea for a long time.

tea bags with envelopes for personal use — Tea bags with envelopes are suitable for personal uses

Conclusion

At FGC, we provide tea bags with and without envelopes depending on your purposes and preference. If you are looking for a prestigious supplier of tea bags, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team will bring the most ideal commercial solution for your businesses!

About Future Generation Co.,Ltd

Future Generation Company Limited is one of the largest beverage suppliers in Vietnam, with 28 years of experience in production and export. FGC is equipped with modern machines such as Hotfill PET and TetraPak, ensuring high-capacity production. FGC strives to achieve our mission to become Vietnam’s leading healthy beverage company. Our factories also meet international standards such as ISO, HACCP, etc. In addition, we constantly innovate our machinery system, strengthen production capacity, and increase productivity.

FGC also provides Private Label Services. With this service, we can help customers in researching and formulating beverages, designing product label packaging, and creating their own brands. This is an ideal solution for small and medium enterprises. Moreover, FGC provides free samples for customers to test before bulk orders. We also ensure delivery as fast as possible.