Drawstring tea filters for loose leaf tea brewing
Like it or not, the tea bag is probably not going anywhere. Common wisdom suggests that it was invented just over a century ago and that it has undergone many changes since then.
You can still opt for low-quality tea in standard tea bags—or upgrade to higher-quality loose leaf tea packaged in larger, more breathable “gourmet” tea bags.
Here are a few things you may or may not have known about tea bags:
Origin I
It’s often said that the tea bag was “invented” accidentally by New York tea merchant Thomas Sullivan, who distributed tea samples in silk bags that customers steeped directly in hot water.
I explored the origins of this story in more detail in
this investigation into the early history and patents of tea bags
.
Origin II
In The Century Cook Book (1895), Mary Ronald recommends using a muslin bag to brew larger quantities of tea—remarkably similar to a modern tea bag.
She also describes silver tea balls that closely resemble modern tea infusers.
Origin III
An 1883 publication, The Coffee Public-House News and Temperance Hotel Journal, also references the use of a cloth bag for brewing tea—suggesting that the concept predates its “official” invention.
Mess Prevention
Tea bags have long been known for being messy, prompting a wide range of inventive solutions.
One example is the
patent for a self-squeezing tea or coffee bag designed to reduce mess during brewing
,
dating back to 1959.
Popularity
According to the Tea Association of the USA, as of 2012, more than 65 percent of tea consumed in the United States was brewed using tea bags.
In the United Kingdom, that figure rises to over 90 percent.
Know When to Fold ‘Em
Finally, tea bag folding is a hobby in its own right—similar in spirit to origami.
You can explore examples and instructions at
a guide to tea bag folding techniques and decorative paper crafts
.
See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles
on the tea blog author archive page
.
© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Excerpts allowed with proper credit.
Tea Blog 
Leave a comment