Should We Be Drinking Tea?
My husband, Tim, drinks a lot of tea. And I mean, a lot. We’re talking ~6-8 cups of Earl Grey before I’m even up in the morning. This is also a person who doesn’t eat vegetables (at all, ever), save for a green drink once or twice a day. So, learning that tea can pack a powerful health punch was welcome news to him. Numerous studies have shown that a regular tea habit may boost your immune system, fight inflammation, and ward off chronic disease. What wasn’t as well received? The possibility that his tea consumption could also mean that he’s downing a considerable dose of microplastics every day.
Let’s take a closer look.
A 2019 study found that a plastic teabag releases about 11.6 billion microplastic and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into the beverage. “Your standard teabag that looks like it is paper could have plastic in it,” says Esha Chhabra, an author, journalist, and co-founder of Alaya Tea, a women-owned, loose leaf tea company. “Unless it's specified on the packaging, it's hard to tell.”
Of course tea isn’t the only perpetrator of microplastics (ugh). That same 2019 study, however, discovered that the levels found in tea were “thousands of times higher than those previously reported in other foods.” With that, an obvious conclusion might be to pass on tea (with a side of plastic) altogether. But the good news is with a little intention, microplastics in tea can be avoided. Meaning, we absolutely can and should be drinking tea - both for enjoyment and for its health benefits. Read on for five tips to minimize our microplastics exposure from tea, and maximize its flavor and health benefits.
Five Tips for Better Tea
1. Choose loose leaf
Skip buying tea on the go (inevitably served in a plastic teabag) and reap the benefits by making loose leaf tea yourself. According to Chhabra, when you drink from teabags, you're also often getting a lower-grade tea. “To enjoy a completely plastic-free option and have a fresher cup of tea, loose leaf is the better version,” says Chhabra. “When we buy loose-leaf tea, we buy some of the highest grades. You really get to notice the nuances of the tea flavor with whole leaves.” If loose leaf tea seems intimidating and time-consuming, I get it, but it doesn’t have to be. Try a stainless steel tea ball like this, this, or this. Maybe even this if you’re feeling fancy. A glass teapot with a strainer is another fun way to do it. Isn’t the magic of tea the ritual of making it anyway?
2. Know your brands
Look for brands that are transparent about what their tea is made of – both the packaging and the tea itself. Take Alaya, for example. They source organic and biodynamic loose leaf teas directly from people and planet-friendly farms in India. “We're big fans of supporting a plastic-free movement in tea,” says Chhabra. “Our [loose leaf] teas are all in compostable stand-up pouches.”
Now, compare that to some of the mass-produced companies that have confirmed they contain plastic in their teabags: Mighty Leaf (owned by Peet’s), Teavana (owned by Starbucks), Celestial Seasonings, and Tazo. When you buy these, you’re also sacrificing quality and flavor. “Much of the inexpensive grocery store brands are selling you fanning. That's literally the powder left over in the tea baskets after all the leaves have been removed,” says Chhabra. “Others are using very inexpensive, low-grade tea leaves. And on top of that, it's often stored in warehouses for years (yes, years, not months) before it makes it to grocery store shelves.” Who would you rather support?!
If you buy the teabag variety, here are few well-known brands that have confirmed they don’t use plastic: Traditional Medicinals, Pukka, Yogi Tea, Republic of Tea, Numi Tea, Hampstead and Stash.
3. Beware of added chemicals
“Beyond just organic, I'd also look to see if ‘natural flavors’ are added,” says Chhabra. “This is a really vague, unregulated term in the food industry. While some natural flavors could be from food-based sources and added flavorings like rose, bergamot, etc, sometimes, they can also be chemicals. That's why we steer clear of any additives whatsoever.”
4. Favor less processed
Tea contains naturally occurring antioxidants called polyphenols. When tea is processed, some of these antioxidant properties can be destroyed. To maximize health impact, avoid tea powders, bottled tea beverages, and decaffeinated teas. If you’re looking for a tea without caffeine, choose natural caffeine-free herbal teas over decaffeinated black or green tea.
5. Consider chamomile
If you read last week’s Lacey List, you might be interested to know that one of the Glucose Goddess’s unpublished “hacks” for lowering blood sugar is to enjoy a cup of chamomile tea after dinner. One study showed that drinking a cup of chamomile every day for 8 weeks helped improve fasting glucose and fasting insulin levels. It also had a positive impact on cholesterol and inflammation, and can improve your sleep, too. So, if this sounds appealing to you, add a cup of chamomile tea to your evening routine.
So there you have it! The answer is yes, we should all be drinking tea - just a bit more mindfully. A major “thank you” to the ever-talented Esha Chhabra for answering our burning questions about tea. Chhabra is an author and journalist who covers sustainability, development, women's issues, and mission-driven brands. Her company, Alaya Tea, is a women-owned, self-funded, loose leaf tea company that sources organic and biodynamic teas directly from people and planet-friendly farms in India. As if she didn’t have enough going on, Esha also recently published a book called Working To Restore. It might be just the thing to go with that cup of tea.
Excited to try their teas!