#FoodieFriday – How Safe is Tea?

For this week’s #foodiefriday post, I had intended to discuss herbal teas and which ones you prefer and why, but once I started my research, I got lost in the internet rabbit warren and the horrors of microplastics in tea and how they can potentially impact our health.

Further digging unearthed this research-based article, which not only includes a list of 100% plastic-free tea bags, free of PLA and glue, but also a list of over 30 plastic-free tea bags, along with brands that use plastic. The article was updated on November 25th.

Plastic Free Tea Bags: Which Brands Are Really Microplastic Free in 2026?

so then I consulted ChatGPT for its pearls of wisdom

Why do some tea bags release microplastics

Certain brands use bags made of:

• Polypropylene (PP) → a heat-resistant plastic used to seal many “normal” tea bags.
• Nylon / PET mesh → used in “luxury” pyramid bags that look silky.
• PLA / bioplastic → plant-based, but still technically plastic.

When hot water hits them, tiny particles break off.
Some scientific tests found that a single plastic pyramid tea bag can release billions of microplastic and nanoplastic particles into one cup.

Which bags are least risky

Choose these if you want to keep things clean and simple:

• Unbleached paper tea bags
• Cotton-stitched bags (no heat-sealed plastic)
• Plant-fibre bags (abacá, wood pulp, cellulose)
• Loose-leaf tea (best of all)

---

Which bags tend to be more risky

• “Silky” or “mesh” pyramid bags (they look fancy, but many are plastic)
• Bags that feel slightly slippery or stretchy rather than papery
• Bags that are sealed without a staple — often heat-sealed with plastic

---

Is it dangerous?

Scientists don’t have a final answer yet, but here’s what we do know:

• Microplastics are tiny, and some can move into organs.
• They may cause inflammation or stress in cells.
• Long-term effects are still being studied.
• The safest bet is simply avoiding plastic tea bags when possible.

---

So I guess I will be switching to paper, or loose-leaf tea, in the future!

What about you? Do you drink tea? If so, how concerned are you about the poetential microplastics in your tea?

*

That’s it for this week’s #foodiefriday , folks.

Foodie Friday!

Why not join the Foodie Friday Challenge Blog Hop?

Let’s talk about food, whether it’s sharing your favourite recipes, growing fruit and vegetables, your harvest ups and downs, hints and tips, favourite restaurants or pictures of plates of food – even diets. If it’s food-related, why not post it on your blog and add it to the Foodie Friday Blog Hop

• Create a post about food at any point during the following week and include the tag: #foodiefriday. You’re welcome to use previous ‘food-related’ posts.
• Link to my weekly post to create a pingback, and I will endeavour to visit and comment.
• You are welcome to include the Foodie Friday badge on your blog. If you can’t save it from the image below, please email me, and I’ll send it as a jpeg.
• Don’t forget to add a link to your post when you comment below so we can keep track and support each other.
• Please don’t forget to check out other bloggers’ posts.
• tag #foodiefriday