The Essence of the Tea Bag & Its Profound Importance

Cafes Richard's tea bags are not made out of plastic.  This is important to note because not all teabags are equal.  Some tea bags are made of out of plastic and this can research deep tissues and organs within our bodies.

A resent study shows microplastics from tea bags can enter the human body and reach deep tissues, according to a 2024–2025 study by researchers at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and international partners.  When brewed in hot water, polymer-based tea bags—especially those made of polypropylene, nylon-6, and cellulose—release billions of microplastic and nanoplastic particles per milliliter of tea.  The study confirmed that these particles are absorbed by human intestinal cells, with some even entering the cell nucleus, where genetic material is stored. 

The research, published in Chemosphere, used advanced techniques like SEM, TEM, and nanoparticle tracking analysis to characterize the particles. Mucus-producing intestinal cells showed the highest uptake, suggesting that intestinal mucus may inadvertently help transport microplastics deeper into the body.  Once absorbed, these particles can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, potentially reaching organs like the liver, brain, heart, and kidneys—areas where microplastics have been previously detected. 

Some ways to reduce exposure to microplastics is to use loose leaf tea with a stainless-steel infuser or enjoy teas with a plastic-free tea bag.