If you turn to a cup of tea for medicinal purposes or for a lift-me-up when your spirits are low…

Or, if tea is your morning cup of choice or part of your bedtime ritual…

Then, you want to be selective in purchasing your teas and their holders. Not only are unwanted, dangerous toxins lurking in some teas, they are also present in tea holders, such as sachets and bags.

The Resource Guide for Tea Without Toxins is here to help you continue to enjoy the many benefits of tea without worrying or having to do extensive, time-consuming research. 

This Guide is divided into four parts:

  1. Toxins in tea
  2. Toxins in tea holders
  3. Links to teas that are toxin-free and safe for you to enjoy
  4. Links to resources separating the myths from the facts about health benefits associated with tea

Toxins in tea

Toxins are in tea because of the growing environment.

Pesticide levels in the soil and pesticides sprayed on tea leaves are the culprits. They include heavy metals, such as lead, arsenic, aluminum, and cadmium.

Tea leaves may not be cleaned after harvest. The first time they may have been washed was when they were placed in your cup.

Mycotoxins are present in tea due to fungal contamination. Tea leaves are susceptible to mold and mycotoxins depending on how they are grown, stored, and fermented.

Toxins in tea holders

Bags

Paper tea bags (and coffee filters) commonly contain epichlorohydrin, a chemical that keeps the bags from breaking. However, epichlorohydrin leaches when exposed to hot water and is a potential carcinogen and reproductive toxin. 

A safer alternative is tea bags made with polylactic acid (PLA), which is made by breaking down plant-based starches. It is hypoallergenic, allergen-free, and FDA-approved. 

Sachets 

Generally in the shape of a pyramid, sachets are fancier tea bags made out of rayon, thermoplastic, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is considered a safe plastic, but it breaks down at less than 170 degrees. If you pour boiling water (212 degrees) over the sachet made with PET, it will leach into your tea.

Diffusers and loose-leaf teas

Using a quality loose-leaf tea in a stainless steel diffuser will remove the worry over toxic chemicals from glue, plastics, and chemicals in bags and sachets leaching into your tea.

Toxin Free and Safe – Teas to Enjoy (with links)

The good news is, once you have the facts and recognize the dangers, finding teas you can safely enjoy is within your reach. After all, tea is something to savor, sip, and curl up with. 

We equate tea with comfort, not with fear. Knowing that toxins can be present in teas and their holders, we can take the necessary steps to avoid them.

Look for the label. The USDA has a strict definition of “certified organic,” allowing the label to be used only for products that meet certain standards for soil quality, animal-raising practices, pest and weed control, and additives.

This label also assures that ingredients added to tea for flavor are organic. This includes fruits, nuts, and spices, for instance. 

When you purchase teas with this label, you can be assured they have been grown and tested under the strictly enforced rules set forth for USDA organic certification. 

You can enjoy the following USDA-certified organic tea brands without worry. These brands, listed with their links, carry USDA-certified organic teas. They contain no synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, GMOs, or preservatives. Some brands and tea houses may carry teas that are not USDA organic, as well. Always check the label or verify with your server.

The Full Leaf Tea Company:  https://fullleafteacompany.com/

Many teas from the Full Leaf Tea Company are USDA-certified organic., Vegan, GMO-free, and Gluten Free. They offer a certified organic line of medicinal teas, matcha, and and teas for rest, relaxation, and enjoyment.

Rishi: https://rishi-tea.com/ 

   95% of Rishi products are certified organic. Loose leaf teas and sachets are environmentally friendly, compostable, and BPA-free. Tea bags are made from plant-based material (PLA) which is inert and allergen-free. There is no risk of microplastics leaching into tea or water supplies. Rishi does not use artificial flavorings.

Yogi Teas: https://yogiproducts.com/ 

Most Yogi teas are USDA Certified Organic. They contain no artificial flavorings, sweeteners, or colorants. Bags are made with manila hemp fibers and wood pulp – no plastics. Filtration paper is bleached only with oxygen. No glue is used. In addition, they do microbiology testing, ensuring that raw ingredient materials are safe and free of pathogens, yeasts, and molds. 

Numi Organic Tea: Numi Tea

According to the Numi website, “We blend premium organic teas and herbs with only 100% real fruits, flowers and spices—and never any “natural” or artificial flavorings.” Not only are Numi teas USDA Certified Organic, but they also offer USDA Certified Organic drinking chocolate! 

Arbor Tea: Arbor Teas

ArborTeas offers one of the Internet’s largest selections of USDA-certified organic loose-leaf tea and tisanes – two-thirds of which are Fair Trade Certified®. Selections include all varieties of tea (black, green, white, oolong, and pu-erh) and South African rooibos, South American yerba mate, and herbal infusions.

Certified Organic: Traditional Medicinals: traditionalmedicinals.com

As the name suggests, teas from Traditional Medicinals are wellness and medicinal-based. That doesn’t mean they don’t taste good; they are just more focused on helping you get back on your feet and staying there. Most of the teas are USDA-certified organic. When they aren’t, the label will tell you what isn’t organic and the percentage.

Tielka: Beautiful Organic Tea—Tielka | Australia’s Most Awarded Organic Tea

Tielka is Australia’s most awarded organic tea company and a family-owned and run business committed to sustainable business practices and ethical sourcing. The company supplies organic loose-leaf tea and infusions, plant-based pyramid plastic-free teabags and teaware, and many of their teas are USDA-certified organic.

Tea Drops: www.myteadrops.com

Tea Drops are organic, ground-leaf teas that are pressed into fun shapes. The leaves are not freeze-dried like instant tea. They melt in hot water — like a bath bomb, except it’s tea! There is no need for tea bags. They are vegan and USDA-certified organic.

Pique:  www.piquelife.com

The mission of Pique, according to the website, is to create doctor-approved, cutting-edge solutions for head-to-toe health. Most teas are USDA-certified organic and come from around the globe. The teas undergo exhaustive testing and are triple Toxin Screened for purity and bioavailability. They come as tea crystals, not in bags!

Choice Organics:  choiceorganicproducts.com

100% of Choice Organic teas are USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Rainforest Alliance Certified, Kosher Certified, Vegan, and Gluten Free. Their bags and cartons are plastic-free and compostable. Tea is processed in a LEED-certified tea facility in Eugene, Oregon, the first of its kind in North America. Choice Organics offers a wide variety of teas, ethically sourced from around the world.

Republic of Tea: https://www.republicoftea.com/

There is a nice variety of USDA-certified organic teas, including matcha, carried by the Republic of Tea, but be sure to look for the label. All of their teas are gluten-free, but not all are organic. Most of their teas are in round, unbleached bags without strings or staples, and some loose-leaf teas are available.  

Separating Myths and Facts

It shouldn’t be surprising that marvelous, magical healing properties surround teas. Tea potions have been steeped in stories, myths, and intrigue for ages. But not all teas contain miracles. Some just taste good, smell good, and we enjoy relaxing with them.

If you are considering using tea for medicinal purposes, however, you should always check with your doctor. You don’t want any adverse interactions with the medications you are already taking.

Following are two resources that provide unbiased information about tea and its health properties.

Nutrition Advance has a helpful article about the five true types of teas ( black, green, white, Oolong, and Pu-erh) and 26 popular herbal teas. It highlights a key point about each type of tea and cites studies backing or dispelling myths about the health properties of different teas.

It’s a good place to begin for an overview. Here’s a link to the website:

31 Types of Tea: Profiles, Potential Benefits, Side Effects – Nutrition Advance

The Cleveland Clinic is another nice site located on the web. While the information isn’t as detailed or lengthy, it does a nice job of listing different ailments. Then, based on medical knowledge and no hype, it provides the types of teas that will work best for relief. 

Here is a link to the site:

The Best Teas to Drink for Your Health – Cleveland Clinic

Your Next Step?

Congratulations! You’ve taken a very important step already by increasing your knowledge about the dangers lurking in tea and the benefits of drinking USDA-certified organic teas.

Now you have links to several websites that offer access to a wide variety of organic teas. You also have two reputable, non-biased sources providing information about ailments and what teas might be beneficial.

So, what’s next for you on your tea journey?

May I suggest you pour yourself a freshly brewed cup of tea (organic, of course) and select one or more of the tea links to visit? Some have fascinating stories about their beginnings and the people they work with.

They will also offer you a world of tea you probably didn’t know existed. Don’t be surprised to find yourself making a list of all the teas you can’t wait to enjoy.