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The tea bag was an American accident, Thomas Sullivan in 1908 sent tea samples in silk pouches; recipients brewed the whole pouch. The bag took until the 1960s to dominate British tea consumption. By the 1990s, 95%+ of UK tea was bag form. Modern tea bags use paper or plant based fibres (some still contain plastic for heat sealing). The format democratised tea brewing.
The accidental invention
1908: Thomas Sullivan, a New York tea merchant, sent tea samples to potential customers in small silk pouches. The samples were intended to be opened and brewed loose leaf. But customers brewed the whole pouch, found it convenient, and asked for more.
The tea bag was born.
The British resistance
Britain initially resisted tea bags. The British tradition of loose leaf and pot brewing was deeply embedded. Tea bags were seen as American convenience that compromised quality.
Adoption timeline:
- 1920s-30s: Tea bags occasionally available in UK, viewed as novelty.
- 1950s: Tea bags became more common in UK supermarkets.
- 1960s-70s: Tea bags increasingly dominant.
- 1980s: Tea bags overtook loose leaf in UK consumption.
- 1990s onwards: 95%+ of UK tea is bag form.
Modern tea bag formats
Standard square (most common)
Paper bag, often with single seam. Fits in standard mugs. Cheap to produce.
Round (Tetley innovation, 1989)
Designed to brew more evenly than square shape. Tetley pioneered.
Pyramid (PG Tips innovation, 1996)
Triangular bag with more space for leaf expansion. Mesh material. Brews more like loose leaf.
Drawstring (Tetley innovation, 1995)
String allows easy removal. Convenient for single mug brewing.
Temple bag (Teapigs)
Biodegradable mesh pyramid. Whole leaf format. Premium tier.
Cold infuse bag
Designed for cold water brewing. Larger leaf pieces, faster cold extraction.
String and tag
Standard string with paper tag. Allows easy bag removal.
What tea bags are made of
Paper bags
Most common. Made from cellulose fibre, often reinforced with abaca (banana fibre).
Heat sealing
Many paper bags contain a small amount of plastic (polypropylene or PLA) in the heat seal. The plastic is necessary to keep the bag closed during brewing. This has been a sustainability concern.
Plant based bioplastics
Newer bags use PLA (polylactic acid), a corn derived bioplastic that's biodegradable. Still requires industrial composting; not garden compostable in most cases.
Plastic free bags
Recent innovation. Various brands now use fully plant based bags without plastic seals. Usually slightly more expensive.
Mesh bags (pyramid, temple)
Often made from PET (plastic) or PLA. Mesh structure allows leaf expansion.
Cotton or silk bags
Specialty premium tier. Reusable.
The plastic concern
Around 2018-2019, UK media coverage of "plastic in tea bags" raised consumer awareness. Major brands responded:
- Yorkshire Tea: 2020 announced plant based heat seal.
- PG Tips: gradual transition to plant based bags.
- Tetley: plant based bag rollout.
- Pukka: long term commitment to plastic free.
- Teapigs: plant-based temples for industrial composting.
- Twinings: phased transition to plant based.
Most major UK brands are now plastic free or transitioning.
Composting tea bags
Old paper bags with plastic heat seal: NOT garden compostable. The paper composts; the plastic doesn't.
Plant based bioplastic bags: industrial compostable but slow in home composters. Cut open and remove the bag if home composting.
Plastic free paper bags: garden compostable. Tear open or compost whole.
Mesh PET bags: NOT compostable.
Mesh PLA bags: industrial compostable.
Tea bag vs loose leaf comparison
Convenience
Tea bag wins decisively. No measuring, no straining, no cleanup beyond removing the bag.
Quality
Loose leaf wins by leaf grade. Tea bags use smaller leaf pieces (fannings or dust); loose leaf uses whole leaf.
Flavour
Premium loose leaf is more nuanced; mass market tea bags are simpler. The difference is most apparent for premium tea types (Darjeeling, oolong, gyokuro).
Cost
Mass market tea bags are cheaper per cup than equivalent quality loose leaf. Premium loose leaf is comparable to premium tea bags.
Multi infusion
Loose leaf wins decisively. Tea bags rarely support multiple infusions.
Sustainability
Loose leaf has less packaging waste. Plastic free tea bags are now competitive.
Brewing tea bags correctly
- 1 bag per 200ml.
- Just boiled water (95-100°C for black; 70-80°C for green).
- Cover the cup. Steep 3-5 minutes (longer for stronger).
- Remove bag (don't leave in, over extraction continues).
- Squeeze the bag for fuller flavour (some say this introduces tannins; most British drinkers do it).
- Add milk, sugar, lemon to taste.
The squeeze debate
Should you squeeze the tea bag? Arguments:
- Yes: Recovers extra tea from the bag; stronger cup.
- No: Releases tannins; harsher cup.
For mass market everyday tea: squeezing is fine and produces stronger cup. For premium tea: squeezing may introduce harshness.
Pyramid vs square performance
Pyramid bags allow leaf expansion. For premium tier whole leaf tea, pyramid format is meaningfully better. For mass market dust and fannings tea, the difference is minimal.
Tea bag pricing
- Supermarket value tier: 1-3p per bag.
- Mass market brand: 4-8p per bag.
- Mainstream premium (Twinings): 5-10p per bag.
- Premium specialty (Pukka): 15-25p per bag.
- Premium temple bag (Teapigs): 20-40p per bag.
FAQ
Who invented the tea bag? Thomas Sullivan, USA, 1908, by accident.
When did UK adopt tea bags? 1960s-70s gradually; 1980s dominant.
Plastic in tea bags? Most UK major brands are now plastic free or transitioning.
Tea bag vs loose leaf? Bags for convenience; loose leaf for quality.
Can I compost tea bags? Plastic free bags yes. Plastic containing bags need bag removal first.
Curator's note: the tea bag is an American accident that transformed British tea drinking. 95% of UK tea is bag form. Plastic free bags are now the norm. The format isn't going anywhere. Lee, Teas.co.uk, Tunbridge Wells.
In short: teabags
| Format | Leaf grade | Best for | UK price tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square bag (mass market) | Fannings and dust (CTC) | Speed, strength, milky black | 3-6p per cup |
| Round bag (Tetley) | Fannings, slightly larger cut | Even extraction in a mug | 4-7p per cup |
| Pyramid bag (Teapigs, Twinings) | Whole-leaf or large broken-leaf | Better cup quality, premium tier | 14-25p per cup |
| String-and-tag mesh | Whole-leaf, larger cut | Single-cup loose-leaf experience without strainer | 20-35p per cup |
| Plastic-free certified | Variable | Compostable bag for environmental reasons | Slight premium across tiers |
What to buy now
For everyday speed, a Yorkshire Tea or PG Tips square bag is the British default. For a step up without leaving the bag format, Teapigs whole-leaf pyramid bags deliver loose-leaf-quality tea with bag-convenience. For the plastic-free shelf, certified plastic-free bags from Clipper, Pukka, or specialist independents avoid the polypropylene problem. For the actual upgrade route, loose-leaf tea in a strainer or pot remains the destination.
Reference noted
Teabag reading
For format context see the teabag vs loose leaf guide, the pyramid teabags piece, and the plastic-free teabags overview. For brand context see the Yorkshire Tea, PG Tips, Twinings, and Teapigs deep dives.
More from the tea wiki
- Green tea
- Black tea
- Oolong tea
- White tea
- Herbal tea
- Caffeine in tea
- How to make tea properly
- Loose leaf vs teabag
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