How To Avoid Toxins in Tea: 2024 Healthy Tea Guide

Maia James
How To Avoid Toxins in Tea: 2024 Healthy Tea Guide
19 comments

It seems we can’t enjoy anything anymore, doesn’t it? From fish to dark chocolate, so many healthy foods are now under fire for being contaminated with everything from naturally-occurring heavy metals to industrial pollutants. Unfortunately, tea is no exception. Microplastics in tea bags, for instance, are something that’s worth worrying about. 

After investigating tea, I have good and bad news. The bad news is that yes, there are toxins in tea, but the good news is there a plenty of clean tea brands to choose from. Let’s get into it.

Are Tea Bags Bad For You?

Unfortunately, sometimes. Indeed the, biggest source of toxins in tea is often the bags themselves (more on this below.) To get around this, choose powdered teas from brands who test for toxins, teas that come in unbleached paper bags without any glues, or loose leaf teas steeped in stainless steel or organic cotton. See the list below for 12 Good-Stuff approved brands.

Best Stuff

Pique Fermented Teas

Pique’s FermentedPu’er Green Tea is my favorite tea when it comes to health benefits, purity/lack of contamination, flavor, and convenience of preparing. The convenience of Pique’s tea packets is unrivaled–you just empty the powder into hot or cold water. Pique cold-extracts their teas to preserve the maximum polynutrients and you can truly taste the difference. The tea is also screened for a range of toxins and pesticides. Use code GIMME5 for 5% off your first order at Pique.Learn more about fermented teas.

Buy from PIQUE
Pique Fermented Teas

What Are the Sources of Toxins in Tea?

Unfortunately, there a bunch of ways that toxins end up in your morning cup of tea. What follows are the ones I am most worried about, and as I mentoned above, most of these are the bag rather than the tea itself.

  1. Paper tea bags can be a problem because of a chemical called epichlorohydrin, which is used to keep the bags from breaking. Epichlorohydrin will leach when exposed to hot water, and is a potential carcinogen and reproductive toxin. (Many paper coffee filters will also be treated with this chemical, by the way, which is why we recommend stainless steel filters.) Paper tea bags might also have plastic components, such as plastic linings or glues that hold the bags together.
  2. Those silky fancier tea bags (called satchets) pose a different risk, which is what has made the news in recent years. These bags are made of either rayon, thermoplastic, polypropylene, or, most commonly, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is considered a safe plastic, with a high melting point. However, PET’s “glass transition” temperature (the temperature at which the material starts to break down) is less than 170 degrees–and boiling water is 212 degrees. So it’s really not surprising at all that the plastic in these bags leaches into the tea!
  3. Tea bags that are made of polylactic acid, which is derived from corn starch, should also be avoided. Polylactic acid (PLA) is still a plastic of sorts that lacks any safety studies. It’s also not a sustainable option: PLA only biodegrades under specific conditions, such as industrial composting.
  4. Bioplastic tea bags–whether made from sugar cane or potatoes–may be better than regular old plastic made from petroleum, but it may not be. There are enough brands offering 100% plastic-free tea options that I would avoid bioplastics when possible, especially since these are items we directly ingest. Brands using bioplastic tea bags (PLA and otherwise) include Rishi, Tea Pigs, and The Tea Spot.
  5. There is also the issue of toxins in the tea itself, with reports showing unsafe pesticide levels in tea that’s imported from China. Heavy metals from contaminated soil (including lead, aluminum, arsenic, and cadmium) may be present in both organic and conventional teas. Although the lead levels are below the action level for public drinking water, steeping tea for less time will not allow the transfer of heavy metals and is thus a good safety precaution.
  6. If you brew your tea in unfiltered water, that can introduce additional toxins. So, get a water filter.

My Favorite Glass Tea Kettle

I love thisglass electric kettle for brewing loose-leaf teas. It’s made ofdurable borosilicate glasswith a generous capacity–I drink a lot of tea so I need a big old vessel like this one. It also hasprecise temperature control. I have gotten pickier about the temp I use to brew my tea, so this is important. And finally, it features astainless steel steeperto prepare tea directly within the kettle.

12 Safe & Healthful Tea Brands

If you’re worried about toxins in tea, you should know about these 12 clean brands.

  1. Art of Tea is one of my favorite loose teas. Their pomegranate green is especially delicious.
  2. Gaia also makes safe tea, as there are no plastics used in their tea bags. Only chlorine-free bleached paper pulps are used for the production of the filter paper, and cotton yarn is used to secure the tab. Because Gaia only makes herbal, caffeine-free teas, I don’t drink them often.
  3. Numi Organic Tea is also toxin-free, as it comes in compostable hemp tea bags that are oxygen-bleached. I like their jasmine green tea.
  4. Choice Organic Teas come in 100% unbleached abaca fibers and are free of plastics. They are sealed with either a staple or cotton string. As far as flavor, I’d say Choice is just okay.
  5. Traditional Medicinals teas are also stored in toxin-free, compostable bags made from hemp and wood pulp. They are whitened using oxygen and peroxide and sealed with staples and cotton string. These are teas that are more medicinal than daily drinks. I often take their Throat Coat variety when I have a virus.
  6. Five Mountains makes delicious teas with international organic certifications, biodiverse and sustainable growing methods, and compostable packaging. Their Bergamot Black blend is especially delicious.
  7. Golden Moon Tea is another healthful, organic and delicious brand of loose leaf tea. Their jasmine pearls are the most affordable I have found.
  8. Davidson’s Organic Tea is another nice loose leaf tea option. I don’t have information about their bags yet!
  9. Earth Mama teas are in 100% USDA Certified Organic–including the paper tea bags, which are not processed with chlorine, dioxins, and/or epichlorohydrin, and have been analyzed and approved by Food Chain for Non-GMO Project Verified status.
  10. Pique tea is one of my favorite teas. Pique cold-extracts their teas to preserve the maximum polynutrients and you simple empty a packet into hot or cold water. Pique teas are screened for a range of toxins and pesticides. Use code GIMME5 for 5% off your first order at Pique.
  11. The Republic of Tea delivers an unequaled selection of the highest-quality teas. Their jasmine pearls especially amazing.
  12. Stash is widely available and makes a range of tea types, all of which come in bags that contain zero plastic, including in the sealants. These bags will compost at home.

Sip Safely: Avoid Toxins in Tea Cups

We all have that favorite tea mug, and this one is mine. If you want to avoid toxins in tea, you’ll want to also avoid putting it into plastic to-go cups. These are available in our store.

Tea has many health benefits. Drinking tea may reduce your risk of cancer and heart disease, due to tea’s high antioxidant content. (Related post: 8 Super Foods We Eat Every Day.) If you’re a coffee drinker, there’s good news: that’s a superfood, too. And here’s how to detox your morning brew.

I hope this guide helps you choose a non-toxic tea and enjoy this cozy habit with peace of mind.

Stay sane,

Author's Signature

Maia, Founder & CEO

Note: This article contains affiliate links or sponsored content, which means that if you make a purchase, we may earn a commission. We only recommend products that meet our strict standards for non-toxicity and that we use (or want to use!) ourselves. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make Good Stuff! 

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19 comments

vogeltd

You are using the word “toxin.” Does that include heavy metals and fluoride, which can be very high in tea? Do any of these companies openly offer COAs?

Emily

If I remove the tea from bag before steeping will that help

Marci Morris

Also, how does stainless compare as an option?

Marci Morris

Wondering if removing the tea from the tea bag before steeping will help any?? Also, love the glass cup but it appears the silcone/rubber? stopper would be in contact with your warm liquid. Isn’t that a hazard? TIA

Sylvia

Maia, is decaf tea processed in the same way as decaf coffee? Are there safe decaf tea options?

Denise Vanlaten

Look out for those who use organic farmed but the processor processes chemically.

CanaryDawn

Unfortunately this barely scratches the surface & doesn’t address mycotoxin.

Shannon

how about Planet organic Australian Brand

Shirley G Oskamp

Do you have any recommendations on electric tea pots? Glass, stainless, ceramic… what is the best material to look for? Do you have any recommended brands?

Rena

Hi Mia
I was reading your post about organic tea bags and was wondering if you knew if Yogi tea bags we’re okay?

Mona

Hello, What are your thoughts on Yogi organic and trader joes teas?
Any other new brands that you have come across recently that are the safest?
Thank you!
Mona

nicole

what is best to use to infuse the loose leaf tea?

Amy Ulloa

Do you know anything about Yogi tea?

Erica

Hi! Donyou know if David’s tea is a safe choice? Thanks!

Danielle

I’m curious to hear your thoughts on Rishi tea sachets? That is our favorite brand of tea and according to their website, they seem to be safe.

“We here at Rishi feel this is an important question and are proud to report Rishi tea bags are made from a plant-based material called polylactic acid (or PLA for short). PLA is an inert, DNA and GMO free material that is produced by breaking down starches found in plant sources. Through this process, no plant DNA is left behind, making these hypoallergenic and allergen free. PLA is NOT derived from petroleum, it is not a plastic and will not leak harmful plasticizers into your brew. "

Sumiyah

Curious about Yogi organic and trader Joe’s teas….?

Karen

So disappointed to see that even my favourite organic, cornstarch-derived bags are considered a type of plastic. But glad I know now.
Thanks again, Maia!

Maia James

I haven’t heard back yet on those!

Annmarie Zuluaga Yafrate

Thanks Maia!! I’ve been looking for a great article like this one. Do you have any idea about Whole Foods Organic paper tea bags? I can’t seem to find any info on whether or not they contain epichlorohydrin. Thanks again!

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