Eco-friendly Biodegradable Tea Bags
It’s no secret the world has a problem with plastic pollution, particularly the presence of micro-plastics in our oceans and drinking water. Did you know that some tea manufacturers incorporate small amounts of plastic into the teabags, so they hold their shape when immersed in hot liquid? That plastic ends up in our cups and ultimately in landfill.
Other manufacturers use staples or glue to attach the string to the teabag or chlorine to bleach the bag white, for aesthetic purposes. These are all things we don’t want melting away in our morning cuppa.
If you’re anything like me, you like to support Companies that are taking the initiative to swap out plastic packaging for more environmentally friendly alternatives.
I was thrilled to find Biodegradable, 100% plant-based, plastic-free teabags in recyclable packaging from The Tea Centre. That’s good news for avid tea drinkers such as myself, who can now sip away without concern for ingesting nasty chemicals.
The Tea Centre has taken care to ensure their pyramid teabags are:
- Biodegradable
- GMO free
- Made from plant-based materials, such as sugarcane
- Heat sealed without glue
- Sold in Eco-friendly Biodegradable packaging – No Plastic
But that’s not the only way the Tea Centre is contributing to reducing waste. While the products from the Tea Centre range use inner wrapping that looks for all the world like plastic, it’s actually a cellulose product, called NatureFlex, made from 100% natural wood pulp, compostable and biodegradable.
Bio-degradable Teabags and cartons that are 100% Recyclable.
Customers now have the option to purchase their teabags packaged inside a fully recyclable carton. These cartons are consciously crafted from food-grade cardboard. Moreover, the printing on the package is gold foil stamping that is also 100% recyclable.
That’s more good news, right?
JAPANESE LIME TEA
Just like Japan itself, this tea was ambrosial and aesthetic. With a subtle lime flavour, it has just the right balance to to be zesty and fragrant without overpowering the senses. Served as a cool drink, the lime flavour is delightfully refreshing and that comes from someone who doesn’t generally drink Iced tea.
Japanese Lime Tea
Ingredients:
Green tea, citrus peel, lemongrass
Biodegradable Teabags and Packaging
This zingy variety of Green Tea can be sipped as both a hot brew or iced tea.
Add one tablespoon tea to one litre of cold water and refrigerate for 4–7 hours.
Strain and serve.
BLENDED IN GERMANY | GLUTEN FREE | VEGAN
Why is a Green Tea Fusion Good for You?
You may already be familiar with the healing properties of green tea. The antioxidants are a boost for our hair and skin and also offer anti-inflammatory benefits. With ingredients such as lemongrass stalk to help relieve anxiety, lift one’s mood and help to ease digestive ailments, a green tea fusion is especially good to drink first thing in the morning.
Biodegradable Teabags
Plastic, GMO and chemical free. Pyramid tea bags are 100% biodegradable.
Green Tea Fusion
This fusion is a zesty combination of green tea, citrus peel, and refreshing lemongrass pieces.
BLENDED IN GERMANY | GLUTEN FREE | VEGAN
Since 1993, The Tea Centre has been offering a different tea experience and I’ve been fortunate to be gifted a sample of the teas to experience. If you love the aroma and flavour of fine tea, the tea will delight you.
Related Post:
I recently wrote about Glogg Black Tea. Some other warming winter tea flavours I plan to try include:
Something to Ponder About 
Awesome information! Thank you for sharing this with us!
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Thanks for the comment Donna! Appreciate that!
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I did not know about the plastic and the tea bags, Amanda. A good point when material is compostable and biodegradable. I am a huge fan of lemon and lime flavours. I will see whether I can find a Japanese Lime Tea here. And then I see, you have a recipe (ingredient list). I rechecked your post and recipe on Glogg Tea. A treat. Thank you for sharing some gems and an interesting post.
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I hope you can source some lime tea Ericka. And better still if they biodegradable plastic free. It is one small measure we can do for the environment and it encourages other companies to move to eco friendly products.
You are familiar with Glogg?
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Variations of Glogg over the years. A great Winter treat for us.
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Good to hear that you are an enthusiast. I like that it good for us too.
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Saving the Planet One Sip of Green Tea at a Time. I make suntea green tea . On Saturday, July 10, 2021, Something to Ponder About wrote:
> Forestwood posted: ” Eco-friendly Biodegradable Tea Bags It’s no secret > the world has a problem with plastic pollution, particularly the presence > of micro-plastics in our oceans and drinking water. Did you know that some > tea manufacturers incorporate small amounts of plas” >
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I’m not a fan of green tea but I do like nicely flavoured black teas. I’ll check out the store here.
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Awesome! I hope they stock the plastic free tea biodegradable bags. Some of the flavoured black teas from this store are so delicious. I had one called Cherry ripe and it was exactly like drinking a liquid cherry ripe with a tea flavored kicker. I was just enjoying a cup of Earl Grey blue flowers myself.
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A friend recently gave me some Cherry Ripe Tea she bought at Tamborine. It’s so yummy.
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It may be similar to the one that I purchased. Definitely I got those Cherry ripe vibes from the choc chips and coconut!
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I have shifted to only using leaf tea. Not only does it taste better, it reduces energy input required & waste created compared to any tea bag, however biodegradable.
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Indeed, Jane. I love that you are trying to reduce wastage and I also mostly use loose leaf tea and only use tea bags when necessary. I usually like one of this store’s blends called Royal Ritz: a black loose leaf tea with caramel, vanilla apricot and calendula flowers, but currently, I am drinking a Glogg Black Loose leaf tea that is reminescent of Christmas – (We just had a Christmas in July celebration you can read about here: https://forestwoodfolkart.wordpress.com/2021/07/09/a-christmas-in-july/
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Excellent! If only more companies would follow their example.
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It is a wonderful initiative, Laurie. I am not sure how available this kind of product is, in other countries. Are teas labelled as such in your region?
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I haven’t noticed any that have.
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Great to know about the Tea Centre and their efforts. I’ve been using loose leaf tea. The Japanese Lime Tea sounds wonderful. Thank you Amanda for sharing this with #weekendcoffeeshare.
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Loose leaf tea seems generally to be something that solid tea drinkers prefer. The leaf appears to be of better quality. (some teabags have tea leaf that is miniscule!). The larger the leaf the more flavour it seems. Does that sound right, Natalie?
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I too have given up the bag. My daily tea creates leftover loose leaf tea tins are very recyclable and i get to make the tea as strong or as light as I want, and once someone tastes loose leaf tea, they rarely want to go back to the bag unless convenience is their only concern.
Thanks for the great info.
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Exactly Gary. The flavour is better but these bags I would have to say are the best quality I have tasted in a teabag. Add to that, I can get two cups out of them, so that reduces waste and given they are compostable, I feel they are an option if loose leaf is not available. These varieties I mentioned are also available in loose leaf varieties. Some folks might need to use teabags in an office situation and these are perfect for the environmentally conscious office.
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I’m not a frequent tea drinker (just an occasional herbal tea) and I had no idea some bags might contain plastic. I looked at the box I have in my pantry and there is no indication one way or the other… I wonder how I can find out?
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Thanks for stopping by, Janis. I guess you might search on google or ask the company. We have a consumer watchdog here that investigates things like that. It might be difficult to find out, so you might have to rely on buying bags that promise they are plastic free, Janis?
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That is great information! I try to consider those things. On the subject of our environment I watched a fabulous movie today “2040”. Here is the trailer if you’re interested https://youtu.be/p-rTQ443akE. Maybe you’ve already seen it, if not, it is most interesting.
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Thank you Maria. I will take a look at that link.
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It looks like the teas would make great gifts for serious tea drinkers as well. I did not know all of those things that you shared. Thank you!
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Receiving a gift such as this would be a delight for a tea drinker. Thanks for your visit. Nice to meet another tea enthusiast.
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Glad to increase your knowledge of tea-y matters and this tea would be brilliant for Christmas gifts.
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The jasmine lime sounds interesting. Is it more citrus or more floral? I never thought to combine those flavors together.
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It is definitely on the citrus side, Julie, but subtle and not overpowering. I feel it is softer than some of the berry flavoured teas which can be at times acrid. If you get to try it, I hope you enjoy it.
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Plastic pollution may only be one of the many problems our society faces, but it’s a biggie. Kudos to you for spreading the word about a choice we can make to help tackle it!
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Thanks Wibble! Spreading info and choices one post at a time. Lol.
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Coincidentally, here’s a bit of spreading that Greenpeace has just done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=padYMzZ9Gh8
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Appalling how some folks don’t care and try to reduce waste, when there are so many alternative options!
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Nice piece I love it
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Thank you.
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You are welcome
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It’s about time more companies start to eliminate plastic from their products. My daughter is a tea connoisseur and is very particular. She buys loose leaf, organic teas and we have special bags that are compostable and plastic free when she doesn’t use her metal reusable steeper. I love most kinds of good tea. We try so many. I do like citrus flavors but not so much spice in my teas. We are also working hard to find ways to eliminate more plastic. It’s time to start a movement.
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We ARE part of the plastic free movement, Marlene, even if we are not a paid up member of a group! That is the best way to effect change. At the grass roots level and influencing family and friends. From little things big things grow.
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