Acorn Tea Steeper

Steeping tea doesn't have to be unsightly or unsustainable... keep it cute with this gold, stainless steel tea steeper.

Did you know that paper tea bags contain a harmful carcinogen and reproductive toxin called epichlorohydrin? It's used to keep the bag from falling apart while steeping. Many coffee filters are guilty of this as well. But what about the fancy, silky tea sachets? Those are made of rayon, thermoplastics, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate (PET)... that one is considered a "safe plastic." However, the temperature at which it starts to break down is 170 degrees (boiling water is 212 degrees), so it's likely that those chemicals are leeching into your tea. There is another type of tea bag made of polylactic acid, which is derived from corn starch. It should also be avoided as it is still a type of plastic that lacks any safety studies. 

It is also important to keep in mind that when making tea, you should use purified water and never tap water. Please visit EWG.org to see the harmful additives in your local tap water. 

Tea is not perfect or created equally either. While it's better to buy organic teas, the soil in which it grows can be contaminated with lead, aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, and others. Always try to source your tea from reputable sources or, if possible, grow your own! That is the BEST and most rewarding and exciting way to make tea. You may be drinking tea to soothe your stress and find that gardening brings you the most relief!