Tea Knowledge ·

What's the Deal with Pyramid Tea Bags?

There’s tea bags. There’s loose leaf. Then there’s… pyramid sachets?
What are those exactly??

We call them pyramid tea bags because that’s exactly what they are: a type of tea bag designed with more of a pyramid shape, as opposed to flat tea bags.

They’re shaped like this for a number of reasons:

1. to accommodate larger quality tea leaves, instead of the smaller particles in traditional tea bags often referred to as fannings.
2. To give more room for tea leaves to expand and unfurl while steeping, which leads to better flavor.
3. The wider tea bag design also enables good water flow into the bag to surround the tea leaves and extract a more thorough, consistent steep.

Are they better than regular tea bags?

Thistle & Sprig Tea Co. Chai Pyramid Tea Bag

Well yes, in the sense that they give a more consistent, higher quality steep AND tend to use a higher tea leaf grading than a regular tea bag. However, a pyramid tea bag is going to be more expensive per unit than a flat paper tea bag.

So how are they made exactly?

Pyramid tea bags can be made of a number of materials. If you have concerns about what exactly is IN your tea bags... Don’t worry, we do too! Even though there are plenty of “generally recognized as safe” materials approved for tea bags, we are pickier. Some pyramid tea bags are made of plastic-based materials, like nylon or PET. Additionally some use glue to seal the tea bag together. But others are made from silk, paper, or plant-cellulose, aka PLA.

Moonlit Mint, Tea Bags - Thistle & Sprig Tea Co.

Ew, plastic! Are there better options?

If you have concerns about microplastics in our bodies and/or environment, what you want to look for is plastic-free tea bags. They will often be labeled biodegradable as well, because plastic does not degrade, whereas natural materials like paper and PLA do.

We like PLA as an eco-friendly alternative because it is probably one of the best options available today to substitute for plastic. It is 100% made from renewable, plant-based resources such as sugarcane, corn starch, and switchgrass. It's 100% biodegradable and often compostable. It is slightly more expensive than regular plastic, but we believe it is worth the cost to reduce our plastics usage. And as the market for PLA grows, the more affordable it will become.

What does Thistle & Sprig Tea Co. use?

Farmhouse Lavender, Tea Bags - Thistle & Sprig Tea Co.

Our pyramid tea bags are 100% plant-based and plastic-free.
The particular PLA we use is similar to a product called Soilon, but with a higher tensile strength and seal structure. It is fully biodegradable. We believe it’s the best option available right now to offer a eco-friendly, cost-effective, high quality cup of tea.