The humble tea bag is an ever-present part of the modern tea-drinking experience, allowing for the convenient and mess-free brewing of a single serving of tea. But do you know the story behind how this now-common item came to be?
The origins of the tea bag can be traced back to the early 20th century. In 1908, American tea merchant Thomas Sullivan began experimenting with sending out small samples of tea in hand-sewn silk bags, rather than the traditional loose-leaf format. The intent was to reduce the cost of shipping loose-leaf Tea bag samples. To Sullivan’s surprise, many customers mistook the sample bags as the intended brewing method and began steeping the entire silk bag. This accidental discovery marked the birth of the tea bag as we know it today.
Over the following decades, the tea bag design evolved, shifting from silk to paper and incorporating perforations and tags for ease of use. By the 1930s, tea bags had become a widespread and popular way to brew tea, with major brands fully embracing the new format. The tea bag’s convenience, portion control, and clean brewing process led to its widespread adoption and cemented its place as an essential part of the tea drinking experience worldwide.
