Zero-Waste Tea Essentials

 

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Most tea you can get today comes in a box with individually wrapped tea bags in plastic, foil, or lined paper. Some of the tea bags themselves are compostable but some are made of a non-renewable polyester mesh.  As I began my transition to a more natural and sustainable lifestyle, I realized my tea routine needed a zero-waste upgrade. I started taking steps to make sure my tea was organically grown to reduce high levels of pesticide exposure and I started buying tea in bulk to reduce my waste. Here are my time-tested zero-waste essentials.

Glass jars or metal containers:

All of my tea is loose leaf and stored in glass jars (and sometimes tins). This not only looks beautiful on a shelf but it is also infinitely reusable and doesn’t involve plastic. I just refill the jars when they start to get low. I typically only buy tea at bulk stores (only if it’s organic) or online at my favorite natural ingredients store. This way I get bulk tea grown organically and sourced sustainably.

Strainers:

Have you ever been frustrated by those reusable metal tea balls that always break open in your cup of tea? There’s nothing that ruins a nice cup of tea than having to fish out leaves and twigs and other bits when this happens. Somehow that clasp always seemed to break or lose its grip after a few uses!

 

 

After years of testing, there are now only 2 strainers I use. One is a mesh teaspoon that you squeeze to open. I bought 2 from Mountain Rose Herbs several years ago and they are still in perfect condition. The other is a mesh tea infuser with a handle. It can fit in a cup, in my travel mug and even in my teapot. Both are indispensable!

Note: I prefer the infusers offered on Mountain Rose Herbs to anything on Amazon because the quality varies so much. MRH has stellar quality and is very affordably priced for their tea essentials.

French Press:

If you make tea for more than yourself, this is a great way to brew multiple cups at once. I’ve used my French press for infusions of all kinds (not just tea!). You can also use a French press to brew coffee. Since we don’t drink coffee often, I prefer a multi-purpose French press to the standard coffee maker that clutters my kitchen counter.  It is a zero-waste, (nearly) plastic-free, and minimalist way to brew delicious drinks.

 

Teapot:

This is completely optional but I love having a classic teapot around. I love serving tea in a pot or the idea of making a pot of tea when a friend comes over. I only need one and it is an elegant and simple teapot – perfect for everything from tea parties to a big pot in the afternoon.

 

 

Bottom Line

All of the tea accessories I have listed are my favorite essentials but honestly, you don’t need more than a reusable strainer. Buy your tea without packaging and brew your tea in a reusable cup with a strainer. It’s simple, healthy, and good for the planet!

 

What is your favorite tea accessory? What are the obstacles that keep you from going zero-waste every time?