The Tea Bag an Accidental Invention
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios


Defined Tag: Tea Bag.

Most people do not realize this (even most tea drinkers), but the tea bag was actually an accidental invention. Today, the thought of it being accidental might seem strange. You probably cannot even imagine drinking tea as regularly as you do if you could not use tea bags to make it. It would be an unbelievable hassle, right?

This convenient method of making a cup of tea, became popular during the 1920s after customers of the tea importer, Thomas Sullivan, received some tea samples packaged in small silk bags. Instead of removing the tea from the bags before using, they used the tea, silk pouch and all to make a cup of tea. As a result of the popularity of this new invention, the tea bag, they began to be manufactured commercially and distributed in America. It was not until the 1960s that using tea bags become wildly popular in the United Kingdom, where tea is also wildly popular. Since the 1960s, however, this trend has spread throughout the globe.

Over a period of time, the original silk bag was replaced, first by gauze material and then by paper fiber. The design of the tea bag, if well made, allows the tea to infuse properly by leaving enough room for the tea. Squares or rectangles are considered the usual shapes but circular and pyramid shaped tea bags have recently been introduced to the market. Additionally, there are bags made into other shapes, such as triangles or pyramids. These are generally made out of different materials, too, such as a type of gossamer. If you go to an expensive restaurant, they may serve you gourmet tea that uses these bags.

Some people who drink tea often, but have more time and pride themselves in being a connoisseur of tea flavors, will often mix their own tea. Rather than purchasing bagged tea, they will purchase the bags and then mix their own tea leaves with a  mortar and pestle. They will put the resulting mix in the bag and use it to brew their tea. They get the choice of tea type plus a higher quality of loose leaf tea, as well as the ease of use of the commercially produced tea bag. Because if there is one complaint about the tea bag, it's the lesser quality of tea in them so that they will quickly infuse in the tea cup. It's also true that tea lovers enjoy a greater variety of loose-leaf teas that are usually not available in the conventional tea bags.