Are you a tea drinker? If so, you're not alone. Every day around the world millions of cups of this popular brew¹ are drunk, and it's been that way for thousands of years. The oldest discovered tea is from the Han Dynasty, dating from 206BC to 220AD. But it's thought that the tea trend really took off during the Tang Dynasty in the 8th Century, when it became China's national drink. Now, Turkey, the Republic of Ireland and the UK are believed to be the biggest tea-drinking nations, per capita.

 

Tea is consumed in many ways – slurped², sipped³ or glugged. It can be poured from pots, infused or brewed⁴ in the cup using tea bags – and it's this latter process that is causing concern. Research last year found some premium⁵ tea bags might be leaving billions of microscopic⁶ plastic particles in the cup. Scientists from McGill University in Montreal found that some ‘plastic' tea bags shed high levels of microplastics into water. However, The World Health Organization says such particles in drinking water do not appear to pose a risk.

 

Most tea bags are made from paper, with a small amount of plastic used to seal them shut – made from oil. This has led to debate about whether they can be recycled, but many are still composted. However, gardener Mike Armitage has told the BBC that the plastic contained in the soil could be washed into streams and rivers and ultimately out to sea.

 

Unilever, the owners of the tea brand PG Tips, said their tea bags are made with a small amount of plastic – used to seal them – and that they are suitable for composting. And the brand Yorkshire Tea said their bags do contain 25% polypropylene, but they were "actively⁷ developing plant-based and biodegradable alternatives".

 

While tea bag manufacturers might be doing their bit to reduce plastic pollution, it could be a good time to switch your favourite beverage⁸ to coffee, or if that isn't your cup of tea then try using loose-leaf tea, which can have a better flavour.

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