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| − | {{Other uses}}
| + | [[File:Tea bag.JPG|thumb|250px|left|A tea bag being removed from a cup of tea]] |
| − | [[File:Tea bag.JPG|thumb|right|A tea bag being removed from a cup of tea]] | + | [[File:Teebeutel Polylactid 2009.jpg|thumb|250px|Tea bags made of polylactide (PLA), a bio plastic. Peppermint tea is enclosed.]] |
| − | [[File:Teebeutel Polylactid 2009.jpg|thumb|Tea bags made of polylactide (PLA), a [[bioplastic]]. Peppermint tea is enclosed.]] | |
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| − | A '''tea bag''' is a small, porous sealed bag containing [[tea leaf|tea leaves]] and used for brewing [[tea]], or [[herb]]s or [[spice]]s for brewing [[tisane]]s. Tea bags are commonly made of [[paper]], [[silk]] or [[plastic]]. The bag contains the tea leaves while the tea is brewed, making it easier to dispose of the leaves, and performs the same function as a [[tea infuser]]. Some tea bags have an attached piece of [[Twine|string]] with a paper label at the top that assists in removing the bag while also identifying the variety of tea. | + | A '''tea bag''' is a small, porous sealed bag containing tea leaves and used for brewing tea, or herbs or spices for brewing tisanes. Tea bags are commonly made of paper, silk or plastic. The bag contains the tea leaves while the tea is brewed, making it easier to dispose of the leaves, and performs the same function as a tea infuser. Some tea bags have an attached piece of string with a paper label at the top that assists in removing the bag while also identifying the variety of tea. |
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| − | In countries where the use of loose tea leaves is more prevalent, the term tea bag is commonly used to describe [[paper]] or [[Foil (chemistry)|foil]] packaging for loose leaves. They are usually square or rectangular envelopes with the brand name, flavour and decorative patterns printed on them. | + | In countries where the use of loose tea leaves is more prevalent, the term tea bag is commonly used to describe paper or foil packaging for loose leaves. They are usually square or rectangular envelopes with the brand name, flavour and decorative patterns printed on them. |
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| − | == History ==
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| − | The first tea bags were hand-sewn silk bags and tea bag patents date as early as 1903. First appearing commercially around 1904, tea bags were successfully marketed by the tea and coffee shop merchant Thomas Sullivan from [[New York]], who shipped his tea bags around the world. The loose tea was intended to be removed from the bags by customers, but they found it easier to prepare tea with the tea enclosed in the bags.<ref name="genius">{{cite book | last = Editors | first = Time-Life | title = Inventive Genius | publisher = Time-Life Books | location = New York | year = 1991 | isbn = 0-8094-7699-1 | page = 99}}</ref> Modern tea bags are usually made of paper fibre.
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| − | The [[heat sealer|heat-sealed]] paper fiber tea bag was invented by William Hermanson,<ref>{{cite web|last=Bloxham |first=Andy |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2120094/Tea-bag-to-celebrate-its-century.html#prof |title=Tea bag to celebrate its century |publisher=Telegraph.co.uk |date=2008-06-13 |accessdate=2009-07-15}}</ref> one of the founders of Technical Papers Corporation of Boston{{Citation needed|date=May 2008}}. Hermanson sold his patent to the [[Salada tea|Salada Tea Company]] in 1930.{{Citation needed|date=May 2008}}
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| − | The rectangular tea bag was not invented until 1944. Prior to this tea bags resembled small sacks.<ref name="genius"/>
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| − | ==Production==
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| − | ===Teas===
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| − | A broad variety of teas, as well as other [[infusion]]s like tisanes, are available in tea bags. Typically, tea bags use [[fannings]], the left-overs after larger leaf pieces are gathered for sale as loose tea, but some companies such as [[Honest Tea]] sell teabags containing whole-leaf tea.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fabricant |first=Florence |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/09/dining/food-stuff.html |title=Florence Fabricant, "Whole Leaves, No Strings For a New Tea Bag", ''New York Times'', Feb. 9, 2000 |publisher=Nytimes.com |date=2000-02-09 |accessdate=2009-07-15}}</ref>
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| − | ===Paper===
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| − | {{Main|Filter paper}}
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| − | [[File:Tea bags.jpg|thumb|left|Three different teas in tea bags]]
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| − | Tea bag paper is related to paper found in [[milk]] and [[coffee filter]]s and is a blend of [[wood]] and [[vegetable fibre|vegetable fibers]]. The vegetable fiber is [[bleach]]ed pulp [[abaca hemp]], a small [[plantation]] tree grown for its fiber, mostly in the [[Philippines]] and [[Colombia]]. Heat-sealed tea bag paper usually has a heat-sealable [[thermoplastic]] such as [[PVC]] or [[polypropylene]] as a component fiber on the inner tea bag surface.
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| − | ===Bagging===
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| − | The top tea-bagging machine companies in the world are MAI from [[Mar del Plata]], [[Argentina]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maisa.com.ar/ing/index.html#prof |title=Mai S.A |publisher=Mai S.A. |date= |accessdate=2009-07-15}}</ref> with customers in 78 countries<ref name= teacoffee>{{cite web|url=http://www.teaandcoffee.net/0303/tea.htm#prof |title=Tea & Coffee 03/03 |publisher=Teaandcoffee.net |date= |accessdate=2009-07-15}}</ref> and innovating designs,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-5534418/Innovations-in-the-pampas-necessity.html#prof |title=Goliath, business knowledge on demand |publisher=Goliath.ecnext.com |date=2006-03-20 |accessdate=2009-07-15}}</ref> [[Teepack]] from [[Meerbusch]], [[Germany]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teepack.com |title=TEEPACK GmbH & Co. KG |publisher=Teepack |date= |accessdate=2010-02-17}}</ref> and IMA, from [[Bologna]], [[Italy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ima.it/tea-coffee-beverage/linea.asp?idlinea=3#prof |title=IMA Tea & Coffee Division |publisher=Ima.it |date= |accessdate=2009-07-15}}</ref> A standard machine produced by the MAI company can fill 120 rectangular bags per minute<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allianceindia.net/7/maisa%20tea%20bagging.html#prof |title=Maisa Tea Bagging |publisher=Allianceindia.net |date= |accessdate=2009-07-15}}</ref> containing up to 3.3 grams per bag, which allows the packaging of tisanes. Another company, the Italian Tecnomeccanica, has a faster design capable of filling 250 [[pyramid]]al bags per minute.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Packaging/Faster-tea-bagging-machine#prof |title=Faster tea-bagging machine |publisher=Foodproductiondaily.com |date= |accessdate=2009-07-15}}</ref>
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| − | ==Tea bag shapes==
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| − | [[File:Irish Teabag.jpg|right|thumb|Circular tea bags]]
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| − | [[File:Pyramidal silk tea bag.jpg|right|thumb|Pyramidal nylon tea bag]]
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| − | Traditionally, tea bags have been square or rectangular in shape. More recently circular and pyramidal bags have come on the market and are often claimed by their manufacturers to improve the quality of the brew.
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| − | Empty tea bags are also available for consumers to fill with tea leaves themselves. These are typically open-ended pouches with long flaps. The pouch is filled with an appropriate quantity of leaf tea and the flap is closed into the pouch to retain the tea. Such tea bags combine the ease of use of a commercially-produced tea bag with the wider tea choice and better quality control of loose leaf tea.
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| − | Because of the convenience of tea bags, a wide variety of herbs can be purchased as "tea bag cut", a grade which is specified in terms of particle size, typically with the bulk of the leaves around 1 - 1.5 mm.{{fact|date=September 2012}}
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| − | The [[nylon]] pyramidal tea bag containing larger tea leaf fragments made an appearance in the marketplace for aficionados. The pyramidal shape allows more room for the leaf to steep. Environmentalists prefer [[silk]] to nylon because of health and [[biodegradability]] issues.<ref>{{cite news
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| − | | last = Fabricant
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| − | | first = Florence
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| − | | title = Tea’s Got a Brand New Bag
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| − | | work = The New York Times
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| − | | publisher = The New York Times Company
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| − | | date = September 13, 2006
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| − | | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/13/dining/13tea.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print
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| − | | accessdate = }}</ref>
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| − | Another material for tea bags is [[Soilon]], made from corn starch.<ref>[http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2008/0017043.html Tea Stick Brewing Package and Method]</ref>
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| − | ==Coffee==
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| − | The concept of pre-measured portions to be infused in disposable bags has also been [[Coffee_pods_and_capsules#Coffee_bags|applied]] to [[instant coffee]], although this has not achieved such wide market penetration (similar to the market penetration of [[tea#Instant tea|instant tea]] as compared to [[instant coffee]]).
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| − | ==Tea bag related activities==
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| − | Decorative tea bags have become the basis for large collections and many collectors collect tea bags from around the world.
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| − | [[Teabag folding]] began in the [[Netherlands]] and is often credited to Tiny van der Plas. It is a form of [[origami]] in which identical squares of patterned paper (cut from the front of tea bag sachets) are folded, and then arranged in [[rosette (design)|rosettes]]. These rosettes are usually used to decorate [[gift card]]s and it has become a popular [[craft]] in both the [[United States|US]] and [[United Kingdom|UK]] since 2000.<ref>{{cite web|author=jbritton |url=http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/jbteabagtiles.htm |title=Tea bag folding |publisher=Britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca |date=2009-06-29 |accessdate=2009-07-15}}</ref>
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| − | Cold tea bags are used as a treatment for [[sunburn]] and [[arc eye]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}
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| − | ==References==
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| − | {{Reflist|2}}
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| − | {{Teas}}
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| − | {{DEFAULTSORT:Tea Bag}}
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| − | [[Category:Packaging]]
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| | [[Category:Tea]] | | [[Category:Tea]] |
| − | [[Category:1904 introductions]]
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| − | [[Category:American inventions]]
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| − | [[az:Çay paketi]]
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| − | [[br:Sac'hadig te]]
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| − | [[ca:Bossa de te]]
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| − | [[cs:Čajový sáček]]
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| | [[de:Teebeutel]] | | [[de:Teebeutel]] |
| − | [[es:Bolsita de té]]
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| − | [[fa:چای کیسهای]]
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| − | [[fr:Sachet de thé]]
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| − | [[ko:티백]]
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| − | [[is:Tepoki]]
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| − | [[nl:Theezakje]]
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| − | [[ja:ティーバッグ]]
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| − | [[pl:Torebka herbaty]]
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| − | [[ru:Чайный пакетик]]
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| − | [[fi:Teepussi]]
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| − | [[sv:Påste]]
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| − | [[tl:Supot ng tsaa]]
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| − | [[war:Supot hin seminte]]
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| − | [[zh:袋茶]]
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