How to Make a Proper Pot of (plastic-free) Tea!
Everyone in England likes a nice cup of tea. Nemi Tea is a London social enterprise, which uses profits to give jobs and incomes to refugees, arriving in England often after traumatic experiences.
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). Also avoid caffeine for certain medical conditions.
Although most caffeine is removed once bags are brewed, some experts say not to compost tea bags or coffee grounds, due to caffeine affecting compost bin creatures.
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).
This tea is not just Fair Trade, but made with organic tea leaves. Not just good for the planet, but good for tea plantation workers, who often work in some of the hottest temperatures on earth (they therefore don’t have to wear extra clothing to protect themselves from chemicals).
Sold in pretty zero waste cardboard tubs (you can recycle the inner packaging at supermarket bag bins), the range (serve with oat milk or cashew milk includes:
- English Breakfast Tea (the classic, ideal for your veggie full breakfast). Or serve with a slice of vegan Victoria sponge (enjoyed by Queen Victoria at her Isle of Wight summerhouse).
- Earl Grey (if you’re a bit posh). This is spiced with bergamot oil, best without milk. This smoky Assam tea also has a blue hue, thanks to the addition of cornflower petals.
- Spicy Chai (the Indian classic, loved worldwide). This featuring black tea warmed up by spices of ginger, cinnamon, peppercorn, cloves and cardamom. Ideal to sip on one of England’s many cold rainy days.
- Green Tea (this is the healthiest tea, some love it – others don’t!) This version is not so bitter, due to delicate steamed green leaves from Southern India’s Nilgiri District.
A Truly Plastic-Free Tea Brand
Hampstead Teas always come out top, when indie experts look at which teas have the best eco credentials. Many companies these days use ‘biodegradable bags’ that are basically a form of plastic. So when you pour hot water over them, the plastic goes into you!
This brand is one of the few on the market, that truly is plastic-free. Plus all their teas are organic. And delicious. And varied, so there is something for everyone. The range includes:
- English breakfast
- Darjeeling
- Earl Grey
- Oolong
- Lemon ginger
- Matcha
- Peppermint Spearmint
- Lavender valerian (sleep!)
- Chamomile
- Indian Chai
- Turmeric Cinnamon
- French vanilla
- Rooibos
A Good Organic Tea (found in most shops)
Clipper makes good organic teas in plastic-free packaging including white teas (young buds that are gently oxidised to create a healthy cup of antioxidants in fruity flavours like raspberry).
Their herbal range is extensive though you’ll likely have to shop online to go beyond peppermint or chamomile (nettles, liquorice, fennel and dandelion).
Clipper Also Makes Nice Herb Teas
Clipper’s Organic Peach Tea (with chamomile) is a beautifully refreshing drink in plastic-free packaging, by one of England’s most sustainable beverage companies.
The chamomile tea is combined with natural peach flavours and orange peel, plus some natural flavouring of mango and orange. Sold in unbleached tea bags.
Other flavours include berries and peppermint.
‘Proper’ Plastic-free Tea from Manchester
Brew Tea is made with whole rolled leaves (not dust) as loose leaf or bags in colourful tins. From English breakfast to Earl Grey, these teas (made in Manchester) earn ‘brew coins’ online that can be used to ‘buy’ Borosilicate glass teapots and mugs.
This company also sells Brew Tea in compostable bags for shops. It even pays its employees a Living Wage. What’s more to love?
Zero Waste Tea Making Utensils
This stainless steel loose tea infuser is ideal if you like a ‘proper pot of tea’ but don’t want the hassle of using a traditional teapot, especially if you travel or work from an office. This little gadget lets you make a perfect cup with loose tea leaves, allowing the water to circulate and infuse flavours.
Made from quality steel, the sleek modern design lets you hook the strainer on the end of your mug, with a retractable opening/closing mechanism, so it’s easy to remove and clean.
To brew black tea:
- Boil Water: Bring fresh, filtered water to a boiling point. Black tea needs high heat to release its full richness.
- Measure Tea: Use about one teaspoon of loose leaf black tea for each cup. Loose tea allows for fuller flavour extraction than tea bags.
- Brewing Time: Pour the boiling water over the tea and let it steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Longer steeping can lead to bitterness.
- Strain and Serve: Use a metal or silicone strainer to keep your brew plastic-free. Serve plain or with a dash of plant milk.
An alternative to tea bags is to use loose tea with washable linen tea bags. Featuring quotes to inspire your day, wash with biodegradable washing-up liquid and rinse/line-dry after each use, and occasionally soak in a 1 part cleaning vinegar to two parts water (then rinse).
Tins of Loose Herbal Fruit Teas (Scotland)
Annie’s Teas are sold in zero waste tins, prepared from beautiful Scotland, in rural Argyllshire. They are packed with locally-sourced fresh herbs and dried to preserve the aroma and flavour. Any bags are compostable. They make a wonderful alternative to plain tea or coffee.
Avoid hibiscus tea for pregnancy (check other tins for contraindications).
The range includes:
- Summer Tea is a pink tea (good hot or iced) with blackcurrant, beetroot, cranberry, pineapple, hibiscus, rosehip, rose petals, sultanas and hibiscus.
- Energy Tea contains orange, lemongrass, carrots, nettles, lemon balm and hibiscus.
- Fruit Cuddle Tea contains apple, cranberries, blackcurrants, pineapple, sultanas, strawberries, rosehip, strawberry and hibiscus.
- Vitality Tea features nettles, elderflower, lemon verbena, raspberry leaf and hibiscus.
- Sunset Tea is a relaxing tea with chamomile, lemon balm, rose petals, sage, sultanas, fennel and elderflower.
- Winter Tea is a fruity immunity tea with orange, rosehip, sultanas, hibiscus and chamomile with warming cinnamon and cloves.
- Wild Berries Tea is a combo (iced or hot) or forest fruits, rose hips and hibiscus, along with blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. One pack makes around 20 cups of tea.
A Refreshing Glass of Iced Tea, Y’all!
Peach iced tea (Minimalist Baker) is a lovely recipe inspired by the Deep South. The peach tea is mixed with orange juice, then ‘marbled’ in glasses with a mix of raspberries, almond milk, vanilla and lemon, sweetened with maple syrup. It’s surprising why iced tea is not more popular outside the Deep South.
Brew Tea’s Cold Brew is flavoured with lemon and a little vanilla. Made in Manchester!
