(And what you can do about it—without giving up your afternoon ritual)
At The Tea House on Los Rios, we believe tea should be a moment of peace, not a science experiment. But lately, one question keeps popping up like an uninvited guest at a garden party:Are there microplastics in my tea?
It’s a fair question. With more people tuning into the effects of plastic pollution, it’s only natural to wonder what’s swirling around in your cup. So, let’s steep the facts, shall we?
What Are Microplastics, and Why Are They Crashing Our Tea Time?
Microplastics are teeny-tiny plastic particles—smaller than 5mm—that break off from bigger plastic items or are manufactured for use in things like cosmetics, clothing, and (unfortunately) some food and beverage packaging.
Here’s the plot twist: many of today’s tea bags—just like the fancy pyramid-shaped ones—are made with plastics like nylon or PET (polyethylene terephthalate, if you want to be official). When you submerge those bags into boiling water, they can shed billions (yes,billions) of microscopic plastic bits into your tea.
According to a 2019 study in Environmental Science & Technology, a single plastic tea bag can release 11.6billion microplastics and 3.1billion nanoplastics in one steep.
And here’s the kicker: even tea bags labeled “biodegradable” can still leach plastics if they contain mixed materials that break down under heat. **
Is Loose Leaf Tea the Hero in This Story?
Yes, loose leaf tea wears the cape.
Unlike plastic-based tea bags, loose leaf tea skips the synthetic packaging and goes straight to what matters—flavor, aroma, and natural beauty. No plastic glues, no sneaky coatings, just pure tea leaves.
Now, to be totally honest, trace amounts of microplastics can still be found in loose leaf tea, usually from farming or packaging practices. But we’re talkingmicroscopic amounts here—about 70 to 3,472 particles per kilogram, compared to the billions released from one plastic tea bag. The takeaway? Loose leaf tea is a cleaner, smarter, and much more delicious choice for your daily ritual.
What We’re Doing to Keep Your Tea Clean
At The Tea House on Los Rios, we don’t mess around when it comes to purity and quality. Here’s how we’re keeping your cup as clean and comforting as a Sunday afternoon:
1. Absolutely No Plastic Tea Bags
We’ve kissed plastic tea bags goodbye and switched to premium paper tea filters made from North American wood pulp. They’re biodegradable, compostable, and free from plastic adhesives—because your tea deserves better.
2. Stainless Steel, Always
We steep our teas using top-notch stainless steel infusers and strainers. No plastic parts. No weird flavors. Just clean, proper steeping the way it should be.
3. Loose Leaf and Proud
Our entire tea menu is crafted around loose leaf blends—handpicked, lovingly curated, and full of flavor. It’s the kind of tea you’ll want to sip slowly and share generously.
Sip Smarter, Sip Cleaner
We are proud to serve tea that’s as clean as it is comforting. While science continues to study microplastics and their effects, one thing’s clear—ditching plastic tea bags and going loose leaf is one simple, flavorful way to take care of yourselfand the planet.
So go ahead—brew your next cup with confidence. You’ve got great taste.
** (Wang et al., 2024)
