Tea bags & microplastics

"Which" have published an article about hidden microplastics in teabags. 

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/is-...__20251019

Naively, perhaps, I'd assumed that where the packet says the teabags are compostable, that was the end to the problem. I was wrong! The microplastics are leeching into our cuppas from the sealant used to form the teabag. .....and that's before they reach the compost bin.  Its a bit scary really. 

I'd heard that teabags were best avoided and have been using more looseleaf tea, but I thought it might be because of the additional manufacturing processes/resources  required to bag up the tealeaves.

From today, I'm going to stop using teabags. Since I have so many "free" ones, I'll empty the teabags into the pot so that the "teabag" doesn't come into contact with heat. Hope this will help me avoid the microplastics but still enable me to use the (bagless) tea. 

Ideally, I would be making herb tea using plants from the garden, but, being surrounded by FREE teabags, I've been tempted away from growing my Own Tea Garden. Maybe, next year's project?

You could get these to empty your tea into.
https://ebay.us/m/ESN0Ef

The couple that work in the cafe the other 4 days a week make their own tea blends and use these bags.

That's a good idea!.I'm currently emptying a load of teabags into a jar and I'll take a spoonful out for my teapot. One teabag lasts me a day as I keep topping up the pot. I probably have about 10 years supply!!