Is There Plastic In Your Tea Bags?
What if we tell you that every morning while you have your breakfast tea, you consume along with it- plastic? Every time you make a brew, you are in fact stewing plastic along with your tea? We hate being the bearers of bad news, but yes, it’s true.
Most type of tea bags that are commonly available in markets these days are made of synthetic materials. Most of them release micro-fibres and micro-plastics when put in hot water.
The toxins that are leached out into your tea, can cause a lot of harm to your body. Most micro-plastics and micro-fibres are known to be carcinogenic in nature and can also cause other gut related problems.
There are most commonly two types of tea bags that are found in the markets-
Silken tea bags
These are made rom either fossil fuel based plastic (nylon or PET) or plant based plastic (cornstarch or other plant starch). They leach out the fibres into the tea/ water and are very harmful for human bodies. They are also non-biodegradable and hence damage the environment too.
String and tag tea bags
Though these need not contain plastic polymer fibres, some manufacturers still use paper with plastic to add strength to the tea bags. They still contain traces of micro-plastics and can cause serious damage to the human body as well as the environment.
So, what are the solutions?
The best option is to switch to loose tea that can be bought in bulk or buy the ones that come in tin cans.
Or, look for tea bags made completely out of paper/ cotton. They will not only save your body from the unwanted toxins, but also save the pollution caused.
Shop local and save yourself from a plastic filled cup of tea everyday!