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Teabags. They come in quaint looking packages, usually squared. The tea bag may also be marketed as a tea sachet. Various brands I am familiar with box retail contain interesting information on these peculiar boxes. Choice shows a miniature world map where a particular tea originates. Traditional Medicinals Tea sometimes features a ‘plant story’ for a tea. Organic India, well known for Tulsi (holy basil), summarizes benefits on their boxes. Triple Leaf Tea may provide background and critical information on their tea selections.
We may wonder, why do we have teabags when you can make a more potent tea with loose leaves, roots, berries, and powders? The tea bag solved two major problems, and then some more:
1.The teabag allows for single-serving convenience. Heat water, steep, and throw away the tea bag. Never-the-less, some bags can be used twice or more.
2.Using tea bags significantly reduces clean up that you would have from using loose leaf preparation.
3.Teabags may have an herb combination for synergistic effects, which is nice when proportionally prepared in each bag.
4.The somewhat reduced concentration in tea bags is easier to handle, which allows a consumer to build tolerance if they are not used to the taste and strength of more potent preparations of tea usage. For example, I like double prepared brewed loose leaf peppermint, as well as sliced ginger root directly brewed and settled in the pan. The standard teabag concentration would barely faze me.
Hot Brewing Tea Bags
Hot Brewing Tea Bags
The general application of brewing hot tea consists of 8 ounces of water to one tea bag, steeped for about 4 to 5 minutes. Some manufacturers recommended steeping for up to 10 to 15 minutes. Depending on manufacturer instructions, the water should be somewhat hot with vapor appearing, but not too hot and over boiled. Depending on the tea type, the recommended tea making temperature ranges from 185 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit (Extra Crispy, 2018).
Cold Brewing Tea Bags
One huge advantage of cold brewing is to significantly reduce tea taste bitterness, which can allow for smoother savories. The suggested approach with some tea manufacturers is that cold brewing is about the same as hot brewing, but to use two bags instead of one.
1.Fill a pitcher with cool to cold water that has a lid or cover.
2.Dump two tea bags into the water. The lid or cover can be used to hold the teabag with strings in place.
3.Set the pitcher in the refrigerator for about 6 to 12 hours (basically, overnight or throughout the day).
Environmental Friendly Examples
This website tries to find brand names that provide friendlier tea bags to help reduce micro-plastic consumption and waste issues. Here is a small list of some of these brand names, quoted straight from their boxes to explain what their tea bags and boxes consist of, which are generally environmentally friendly:
Choice. “This box and its contents are fully biodegradable. We use unbleached, natural fiber tea bags, paper envelopes, and 100% recycled paperboard.”
Organic India. “Our infusion bags are made from unbleached, biodegradable fiber.”
Stash. “This box is recyclable and printed with environmentally-friendly vegetable-based inks. All of our teas are made with quality ingredients, are Kosher certified, and gluten-free.”
Traditional Medicinals Tea. “Tea bags are compostable and Non-GMO Project Verified.”
Triple Leaf Tea. “We use oxygen bleached tea bags. Our boxes are made from recycled paperboard and biodegradable inks.”
With all this said, enjoy your cups of tea and the best to you
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