Do you drink a lot of tea? If the answer is yes, there’s a good chance you’re adding to our trash build-up problem.
It’s strange, with all the spotlight on plastic there are still a lot of plastic items that slip under our radar; and tea bags are one of these items.
“But tea bags must be biodegradable.”
The problem is this isn’t always the case; the top tea bag brands around the world aren’t biodegradable. This is because they use polypropylene to seal the teabags.
And even though the companies admit to using plastics, people are still encouraged to put them in compost bins.
So what should we do? Is there an eco-friendly alternative?
Contents
What To Look For When Buying Reusable Tea Bags
Before you purchase your own reusable tea bags, there are a few things you should think about before making a final decision.
Price
It’s the first thing most people check for a reason; it’s the most important. Take a look at what the product offers compared to the price.
Quantity
If you have a large household, or maybe you have a lot of friends visiting. Either way, you’re going to need a lot of tea bags; think about how many tea bags you’ll need.
Size
All tea strainers come in different shapes and sizes; if your tea bag doesn’t fit inside the teapot, you might be left frustrated. Check out the dimensions beforehand.
Unbleached
One reason for choosing reusable bags is for health benefits. If this is one of your reasons for getting a bleached tea bag isn’t a good option for you.
Material
There are so many different materials out there. If you’re looking for durability, get a stainless steel filter; if you want something a little more organic, then go for cotton.
Guarantee
Unsure about making the switch? Choose a tea bag that comes with a guarantee, if it does perform how you need it to, you can send it back with no problems.
Which Are The Best Reusable Tea Bags?
Now you’re armed with the knowledge on what to look for from your tea bags, why not check out my top 5 reusable tea bags?
There’s something here for everyone!
EORTA Tea Strainer
Each beige tea bag is 10 cm by 8 cm, plenty big enough for the heaviest tea drinker.
The tea bags seal using a drawstring, which stops loose leaf tea from slipping out of the bag.
Each pack holds 50 bags, which are fully reusable and biodegradable. And the best bit is you don’t just have to use them for tea.
The cotton bags can also be used for coffee, herbs, and bouquet garni.
Once you’ve finished brewing the tea the bags can be easily cleaned by hand washing.
Key Features
- 100% cotton
- Food grade material
- 50 in a pack
- Beige color
I love these tea bags, they’re made with 100% cotton, which is non-toxic. The drawstrings keep the tea inside, but I do suggest you pull it tight. It’s also great that you can use them for multiple purposes. I found they last fine as long as you look after them correctly.
Pros
- Organic cotton
- Can be used for cooking
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Doesn’t last very long
Mandala Crafts Reusable Tea Bag
It features a drawstring to close the bag and keep the loose leaf tea inside.
The rustic looking tea bags are cost-effective and available in four different sizes.
They also have great versatility and can be used for multiple tasks.
All Mandala Craft tea bags come with a 45-day warranty if you’re unsatisfied, then don’t worry, you can send them back.
The unbleached bags are made with a better and thicker woven material for added durability.
Key Features
- Unbleached natural cotton
- 15-100 per pack
- Beige color
- Chemical-free
Their reusable tea bag is perfect for herbal tea, cooking, or storing board game pieces. The material is thickly woven, so no loose leaf tea falls through. As for the bad review about the smell, I can only imagine this was a bad batch. They make great gifts for tea drinkers.
Pros
- Large size
- Versatile
- Warranty
Cons
- One person said they smelt
Fu Store Tea Ball
Their tea balls are easy to clasp shut while supplying a tight seal to keep the tea leaves inside.
It features a fine mesh that allows the tea flavor to develop.
It also has a hook that allows the ball to hang from the teapot without falling to the bottom.
Once the tea leaves have steeped, the ball and chain can be easily removed from the pot.
One thing to the point out is the tea strainer is not made for fine loose tea.
Key Features
- 304 stainless steel
- Two Piece set
- Fine mesh
- Hook and chain
Their stainless steel tea balls work great for a variety of tasks and can withstand intense heat. Herbal tea steeps fantastically, but the ball does tend to leak small pieces of tea leaves. Again these tea strainers will make the perfect gift for friends or family.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Allows flavor to develop
- Easily removable
Cons
- Leaks loose leaf tea
House Again Tea Ball
Every part of their set is made using 18/8 stainless steel; it’s chemical-free and odorless.
Because the strainer is made with stainless steel, it’s dishwasher safe.
To close the strainer, it features a threaded design making it easy to open and close. It gives it a tight seal ensuring no tea slips out.
Add that to the extra-fine mesh; you can rest assured your tea isn’t going anywhere. It comes with a 4.7-inch chain to hold its place.
Key Features
- Stainless steel
- One strainer
- Fine Mesh
- Threaded design
House Again’s Reusable tea strainers are very nicely designed; they hold tea well and come very neatly packaged. It fits in most teapots and mugs. One thing to note is that it is very large, so make sure you check out the dimensions.
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Threaded top
- Money-back guarantee
Cons
- Weak thread
Emerald Heart Tea Infuser
The tea bags are easy to clean; simply turn them inside out and rinse them underwater.
For the ultimate tea infusion, Emerald Heart designed the perfect size holes. Which allows the tea to infuse.
Because their tea bags are made from silicone, they can withstand high temperatures easily.
Which means you’ll have no problems cooking with their reusable bags. It comes in a pack of six, plenty to share with friends and family.
The best bit is it features no plastic in the packaging.
Key Feature
- Silicone
- Carefully Designed
- Pack of six
- Money-back guarantee
The design behind Emerald Heart is well thought out, but unfortunately, it doesn’t perform how they intended. Hopefully, next time, the holes will be smaller. Other than that, it works great, the silicone doesn’t leave a funny taste, and it’s easy to clean.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Plenty to share
- Money-back guarantee
Cons
- Holes too big
Why Use Reusable Tea Bags?
The most eco-friendly way of drinking tea is to use reusable tea bags.
Here’s the thing:
Tea bags aren’t made with natural materials anymore. As I mentioned before, some are made and sealed with plastic.
Which makes it very hard to dispose of tea bags safely.
Every tea manufacture uses a different style of paper and sealants.
Some companies use manilla hemp, and others use cellulose and thermoplastic fibers. This is why switching to reusable bags is a better option; at least you know what you’re getting.
So, if you want to help save the planet, switch to reusable bags or go for loose leaf tea.
Is It Safe To Reuse Tea Bags?
It seems there are some discrepancies around reusing tea bags. Some people claim that reusing tea bags is completely fine. While others are convinced that it poses a danger to your health.
So what’s the deal?
The main concern is mold growing on the tea bag, but over short periods there should be no problems. But over a sustained period, this is a possibility, so it should be treated with care.
The other thing people are concerned about is the bacteria in the tea. As the luke-warm tea bag starts to cool down, the bacteria are given a chance to grow; which leads to health problems.
So, is it safe to reuse a teabag?
If done correctly, I can’t see any problems, but you need to be smart. I wouldn’t use the same tea bag 24 hours later, but one or two hours later should be fine.
Also, make sure you use boiling water; it will kill off any bacteria that might have grown.
Refrigerate the bag to stop spores from multiplying. And finally, check for any mold; if you see ANY signs of mold, then don’t risk it.
How Do You Clean Reusable Tea Bags?
There are a few different styles of reusable bags out there on the market, which might leave you feeling confused about how to clean them.
But, here’s the thing:
They all get cleaned in the same way, whether its silicone, cloth, or metal. So how do you clean them?
- Empty any loose leaf tea into a compost bin or in your garden
- Turn the tea bag inside out and rinse off the leftover tea leaves under warm water
- Once the tea bag is clean leave it out to air dry
- After every couple washes add a little spot of dish soap and wash as usual
Some are also dishwasher friendly, which makes it even easier.
Summary
Remember, before you purchase your own reusable bags; there are a few things you need to think about. Think about what material are you looking for? If you are looking for something organic, then cotton tea bags are a great alternative.
Another thing to think about is the quantity of reusable tea bags the manufacturer supplies. They can make great gifts, find a multi-pack, and gift them to friends and family.
If you have any questions feel free to comment below, and if you enjoyed the article, why not give it a share?
And if switching to reusable tea bags is still too much for be sure to do your research and only use plastic free tea bags.
If you liked this article you will probably want to learn about the best reusable coffee filters and there benefits too.