Sipping Safely This National Iced Tea Day: Why Your Tea Bag Choice Matters More Than You Think

Co-authored by Protect Our Breasts and Numi Organic Tea

We all love sipping iced tea on a hot summer day, but did you know that June 10th is National Iced Tea Day? Before you reach for that extra squeeze of lemon to add to your infusion, there’s something far more important happening in your cup that most of us never think about: what our tea bags are actually made of, and what they’re releasing into our drinks.

Here’s the thing that’s been keeping us up at night: recent research has revealed some pretty startling findings about what happens when we steep our favorite tea bags in hot water. Spoiler alert—it’s not just the tea leaves doing the steeping.

The Hot Truth About Tea Bags and Plastic

Picture this: you’re making your morning cup or brewing a fresh pitcher for an afternoon cool-down. The water’s boiling, you drop in your tea bag, and within seconds, you’re not just extracting the flavors and nutrients from those carefully selected leaves. You might also be releasing microscopic plastic particles directly into your drink.

A groundbreaking 2024 study published in Chemosphere looked specifically at what researchers call “teabag-derived micro/nanoplastics” (they gave it the catchy name MNPLs, because scientists love their acronyms). The researchers wanted to understand what happens when we use common tea bag materials like nylon, polypropylene, and cellulose in real-world brewing conditions—you know, the way we actually make tea at home.

What they found was pretty eye-opening. When these materials get heated during the brewing process, they break down and release tiny plastic particles into the water. And here’s the kicker: polypropylene tea bags released significantly more nanoplastics than nylon ones, proving that not all plastics behave the same way under heat. The study also discovered that our intestinal cells, particularly the mucus-rich types, can actually absorb these microscopic particles.

Now, we’re not trying to be alarmist here, but let’s be real—drinking plastic particles probably wasn’t on your summer wellness list, right?

When Heat Meets Chemicals: A Recipe for Concern

It’s not just about the plastic particles themselves (though those are concerning enough). Many conventional tea bags contain what are called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)—substances that can mess with our hormonal systems. Think of your endocrine system like a massive postal service in your body, constantly sending and receiving hormonal messages that control everything from growth and development to reproduction and metabolism.

The problem gets worse when heat enters the picture. Just like how plastic water bottles baking in a hot car can leach chemicals into the water inside, the hot water we use to brew tea can accelerate the leaching process from plastic tea bag materials. And unlike other food packaging where we might have some ingredient disclosure, tea bag materials aren’t typically listed anywhere you can see them.

From PFAS (those “forever chemicals” used for their barrier properties) to microplastics breaking down from synthetic materials, food packaging has become a significant source of chemical exposure. Both PFAS and microplastics have been linked to health concerns including long-term toxicity, endocrine disruption, and even carcinogenic potential.

Why Organic Matters Even More Than You Thought

Here’s where the organic conversation gets really important, and it’s not just about what’s growing in the soil. When you choose organic tea, you’re getting leaves that were grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or GMOs. Many people don’t realize that organic standards also extend to processing and packaging considerations.

Remember, tea leaves undergo drying and heating processes after they’re harvested, and then they go into whatever material will become your tea bag. Since tea leaves aren’t washed before we consume them (unlike some fruits and vegetables), any chemical residues from non-organic farming can end up directly in your cup. Add plastic tea bags into the mix, and you’re potentially getting a chemical cocktail you never ordered.

This is exactly why we’re so excited about our partnership with companies like Numi Organic Tea, who’ve made the conscious choice to eliminate plastic from their tea bags entirely.

A Partnership Brewed with Purpose

“When we first founded Numi 20 years ago, we committed to creating a company focused on supplying the cleanest, healthiest cup of tea in the world,” shares Numi Organic Tea co-founder, Reem Hassani. “From sourcing ingredients that are organic and Fair Trade to carefully evaluating each aspect of the way we package and sell our tea, we have always kept the health of our community and our planet at the forefront of our decisions. Our partnership with Protect Our Breasts reflects our shared commitment to education and transparency—helping people make informed choices about what they put in their bodies.”

This isn’t just marketing speak—Numi Organic Tea has walked the walk for decades. Their tea bags are made from biodegradable, unbleached Manila hemp fiber, completely avoiding the plastic materials that can break down into those concerning micro and nanoplastics. They’ve also developed plant-based wrappers that are fully compostable, addressing the packaging waste issue that extends far beyond just the tea bag itself.

For us at Protect Our Breasts, this partnership makes perfect sense. We’ve seen the research showing that 921 chemicals have been identified as breast cancer-relevant, with 414 of those found specifically in plastics. When you’re committed to prevention education, you start looking at every possible exposure point—and that absolutely includes the simple daily ritual of brewing tea.

Small Changes, Big Impact

Here’s the good news: making safer choices doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. When you’re celebrating National Iced Tea Day (or any day, really), you have the opportunity to reduce your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals by choosing tea brands that prioritize plastic-free packaging.

Look for companies that use biodegradable materials like hemp fiber, unbleached paper, or plant-based alternatives. Many of these tea bags will break down in your home compost bin, turning your daily tea habit into a small act of environmental kindness.

And if you really want to level up your tea game? Consider loose-leaf teas with a stainless steel infuser or unbleached paper filters. You’ll get better flavor extraction, more control over the concentration, and zero plastic exposure.

Celebrating Safely This National Iced Tea Day

As you fire up the kettle this June 10th to brew that perfect pitcher of iced tea, remember that the choice of what you brew is just as important as how you brew it. Whether you’re going for classic sweet tea, a refreshing mint blend, or something more exotic, make sure your tea bag choice aligns with your health values.

Take a moment to check what your favorite tea brands are using for their packaging. Read those labels, ask questions, and vote with your wallet for companies that prioritize both your health and environmental sustainability.

After all, National Iced Tea Day should be about celebrating a refreshing tradition—not worrying about what unwanted extras might be steeping along with your tea leaves. Choose organic, choose plastic-free, and sip safely knowing that your summer refreshment is as clean and pure as it should be.

Ready to make the switch? Explore Numi Organic Tea’s full line of organic, plastic-free teas at [numitea.com], and follow Protect Our Breasts for more science-backed tips on reducing everyday chemical exposures.

Sources:

• Banaei, G., Abass, D., Tavakolpournegari, A., Martín-Pérez, J., Gutiérrez, J., Peng, G., Reemtsma, T., Marcos, R., Hernández, A., & García-Rodríguez, A. (2024). Teabag-derived micro/nanoplastics (true-to-life MNPLs) as a surrogate for real-life exposure scenarios. Chemosphere, 368, 143736.
• Neamatollah Jaafarzadeh Haghighi Fard, Faezeh Jahedi, Andrew Turner. (2025.) Microplastics and nanoplastics in tea: Sources, characteristics and potential impacts. Food Chemistry, 466.
• Additional: Check out this quick NPR audio bit to hear about the more than 3,000 chemicals used in food packaging getting into people’s bodies!
  • Huang et al. (2024). Food packaging chemical exposures and health impacts.

Disclaimer: The information provided herein represents our organizations’ perspectives based on publicly available research. We are not providing medical advice, but rather sharing scientific information to help individuals make informed choices. While we strive to make this information as timely and accurate as possible, we make no claims about the completeness or adequacy of any studies referenced.