Teabags

Most of the tea bags we use contain plastic. the type that can cause problems in the oceans.
Also, so does paper towels. Some of the tea bag manufacturers have started to change over to those without plastic, but these are still few and far between. It is possible to purchase non-plastic using tea bags on the computer (although the pyramid ones are plastic free and can be purchased in the supermarkets). For paper towels, the alternative is bamboo ones which are also washable.

As a child I used to say I couldn't dry up as the feel of the dry tea towel on my fingernails set my teeth on edge. I have got over it now (I'm sure I was exaggerating to get out of helping) but I still don't really like the feel.

Oh dear, is it wrong to put tea bags in the kirbside compost bin - collected weekly? I am confused now....................

To find out about plastic in Sainsburys Red Label tea bags I have been in touch with them. The person I was in contact with didn't know (!!) and has taken my email address and will let me know when they find out. I will come back on here when I know the answer.

pollypocket that is so strange, my dil is exactly the same. She does dry her pots (obviously), but you can visibly see her discomfort as she’s doing it.

I have to ask the staff to get rid of the teabag for me. The sight of a used teabag knocks me sick. They go straight in the bin in my house!

Must say I can understand how marthajolly feels. I don't drink tea but when ordering for friends I always ask (same time as ordering) and staff have always been quick to sort as they don't like the mess either. It has often led to interesting chat about the way they have to do things which only cost more in the long run or how they don't understand themselves why it's not the norm, etc.

My teamaking tackle is near the sink and thats where the tea bag goes. No problem. or I make tea in a small stainless steel teapot and empty that later into the sink.

In Germany you get a cup of boiling water and the teabag wrapped in another paper bag on a little plate next to it, all on a little tray. Sometimes the bowl or large cup is scalding hot and you can't lift the whole lot to your mouth.
I always order coffee in Germany which is getting worse by the year. weaker and weaker and all foam.
Still I know where I live, where the baker is who makes the best coffee.
Unbelievably complicated!

We have a tiny teabag bin by the side of the sink which then gets emptied into the food recycling. I think I got it in Lakeland. DH doesn't like them going into the compost as the outer casing doesn't seem to rot (what is it made of?).

If I was in a cafe which didn't have anywhere to dispose of it I would just leave it on the table in a paper napkin.

I have had a reply from Sainsburys about their Red Label tea bags and the paper cover contains 25% polypropylene. This is recyclable but I don't know if it is compostable.

Isn't polyproplene the plastic that does not break down? I used to use Sainsbury's Red Label teabags, but will not do so in future due to this. Did they say if they have any plans for changing this - many of the supermarkets are changing their own brands to cut out this plastic.

No mention of plans to change the composition of the tea bags Franbern just a brief email. However, if other supermarkets are changing their brands to can bet that Sainsburys will too!

Margaret ‘ tea making tackle’ that may set Monica off!
When ordering tea when out and about ( including today) am always given a teapot, albeit a tiny one, with a teabag in it.At least I can leave it to brew, then evict the teabag with a spoon.
A cafe we go to in Broadway( Cotswolds) always uses loose leaf tea in the teapot, and the difference is amazing.I should go back to using ‘real’ tea ( but am lazy.)

I recently decided to try loose leaf tea again when I discovered a tea strainer at the back of a drawer ! It has much more flavour and one teaspoon seems to be stronger than one teabag.I love it?

The problem is that so many people use teabags that loose tea is more difficult to find. I have emailed Lidl's about this but so far no response. I have to go to Morrison's for the loose tea.

One of my most treasured posessions, which I have used every day for the last thirty odd years is a tea caddy spoon made by one of my children in the school metalwork class.

We have recently discovered these brewing baskets which can be used in the cup. They are great for loose leaf tea and no need to bother with a pot for just one or two cups.

Oh dear............just realised this might be termed as advertising when intended as a recommendation. Assume it will be removed if so.

Willow asks
If you use loose tea where do you empty the teapot
My mother always used to tip the leaves (swilled out with a little water ) over her roses. Similarly the bowl of soapy washing up water. One fertilised and the other killed greenfly, she maintained. I don’t know what Monty Don would say, but it seemed to be very effective. ??