Storm in a Teacup: The Truth About Microplastics
Nemi Tea is a London social enterprise, which uses profits to give jobs and incomes to refugees, arriving in England often after traumatic experiences. 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).
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).
Elephant-friendly tea plantations promise not to poison elephants, farm organically and avoid electric fencing, razor wire and deep narrow ditches (difficult to cross).
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).
Also read about energy-saving kettles.
Beware (not all ‘plastic-free’ teas are true)
Years ago, all tea was sold loose. But now most contain plastic. Just one bag at 95 degrees C can release over 11 billion microplastics into your drink. So unless you use loose leaf tea, look for plastic-free tea brands.
Be careful, as some brands label their teas as ‘plastic-free’, when they actually use plant-based PLA (polylactic acid) that still is not truly plastic-free.
Nemi Teas (helps London refugees)
This brand also sells a disposable tea filter (100 each pack). Just use 1 filter to make 4 cups of tea (made from chlorine-free easy-to-recycle paper). Just add your tea leaves, and fold down, leaving room for the tea leaves to expand. Then dip the filter into your mug or teapot.
Sold in pretty zero waste cardboard tubs (you can recycle the inner packaging at supermarket bag bins), the range (serve with oat drink or cashew drink includes:
- English Breakfast Tea (the classic, ideal for your veggie full breakfast). Or serve with a slice of vegan Victoria sponge.
- 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.
Tea Lab Company (tea in glass vials)
Tea Lab Company is a lovely brand, founded by identical twin sisters (and a scientist) who had the good fortune to be raised in Hawaii and Barbados (nice!) They not only pack their organic teas in glass jars and test tubes to be recycled, but a portion of profits help a wonderful charity that rescues orphaned elephants and rhinos. How good can this get?
You can find loose teas in all flavours from classic Assam to herbal to rooibos. The letterbox mailer teas are sent in glass test tubes with cork lids, including eco-fillable tea bags.
Heath & Heather (nice organic teas)
Heath & Heather is a quality brand of organic tea, sold in many stores. The teabags are made with natural wood pulp and hemp, and don’t need heat-sealed plastics, so can go straight into your food waste bin or bin, to naturally break down.
This brand was founded by Samuel Ryder, a Preston boy who left college early to become a shipping merchant, but was forever inspired by his father’s passion for gardening. Founded with his brother James (a passionate herbalist) this company has been around 100 years, and became popular in the 70s when sold in Holland & Barrett (when it used to sell health food, rather than aisles of supplements and whey powders).
The range includes:
- Morning time
- After dinner
- Night time
- Apple cinnamon
- Matcha green tea
- Lemon and ginger
- Organic rosehip
- Raspberry leaf
- Peppermint
- Dandelion burdock
- Chai and liquorice
Clipper Teas (sold 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).
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.
Hampstead (truly plastic-free organic tea)
Hampstead Teas always come out top, when indie experts look at which teas have the best eco credentials.
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
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.
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.
