Zero Waste Tea-Making Tools

These are great if you would like to switch to loose tea, without the bother of brewing a whole pot for one person, or if you are in the office or  travelling.

This in-cup tea strainer is made from stainless steel, like an upgraded  version of the hand-held one your mother likely had. Fitting inside most mugs, just add loose tea, put over a mug and leave to infuse. For fine tea (like spearmint or peppermint) wet the strainer before you add the tea.

NHS says that it’s best to avoid caffeine for pregnancy/nursing (or no more than 2 cups of weak tea daily – or 1 cup of mild coffee or cola). Some teas (like hibiscus and liquorice) should be avoided for pregnancy/nursing.

Although tea leaves are natural, in excess their acids could harm compost creatures. So latest advice is to just bin them (or put them in food waste bins) to naturally break down. Use a sink protector mat to catch tea leaves, to avoid them clogging your sink. The same applies to coffee grounds (and acidic food scraps – alliums, tomato, citrus and rhubarb).

Tea Paper Filters

Tea Lab Paper Filters are made from biodegradable filter, if you want to make a loose cup of tea on the go. Just fill with tea and pour over water, use the drawstring to brew and then dispose of the tea bag, to safely return to the earth. Each box contains 50 bags.

Everyone in England likes a nice cup of tea. Most teas are packed in plastic, which means that when you pour hot water over the tea bags, you’re literally drinking microplastics. Fair Trade tea is also important, as tea plantation workers often live in some of the poorest countries on earth.

And tea leaves are very absorbent, so choosing organic not only is good for you and the planet, but the tea plantation pickers (they don’t therefore have to wear protective clothing, in very hot climates).