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Tea bags: myths and facts
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Today, many consumers have the opinion that all tea bags are a solid set of chemicals and flavorings.
Many people find that their tea bag brews in cold water just as well as in boiling water, and the flavor is richer than that of loose leaf tea.
It turns out that the process of coloring water with tea from a bag is not always associated with the presence of any additional coloring agents in it, since tea itself is a natural dye. Tea bags contain a small fraction of tea leaves, so the process takes place within a few minutes, and if any leaf tea is kept in water for a long time, it will also color it.
Tea from bags has a stronger and richer taste than loose leaf tea. This feature also gives rise to many myths among consumers about the low quality of bagged tea, the use of dust, concentrates and other "non-tea" ingredients. In fact, the only qualitative difference between bagged tea and loose leaf tea is the smaller leaf size. After preliminary processing, the best tea leaves are additionally crushed, which allows for faster brewing of tea, since the number of leaf breaks through which enzymes are released into the infusion increases, providing a dark color and deep taste.
However, it is better to brew loose leaf tea because it is not the tea itself that is most often a threat to your health, but the paper from which the tea bag is made. Most tea bags are made using a chemical called epichlorohydrin, a compound used to make plastic and as a pesticide. The substance itself is safe. But when it comes into contact with water, it is converted into 3-monochloropropanediol, a real carcinogen. Although its amount is small, if it enters the body regularly, it can cause irreparable damage to your health.
Of course, not all tea bag paper companies use epichlorohydrin. It is almost impossible to find out whether your favorite brand contains it, since it is not indicated on the packaging. So it is worth seriously considering switching to loose leaf tea and getting the maximum pleasure and benefit from this drink.