DIY Unbleached Tea Bags

Heather Dessinger

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Note From Mommypotamus: I’m taking a little time off to snuggle my newborn baby boy, but I’ve lined several guest posts from some of my favorite bloggers for you while I’m away. Today’s post comes from Loriel of Naturally Loriel. As someone who cannot sew AT ALL, I was so excited to read that Loriel found these easy to make even without any sewing experience. Thank you, Loriel!

I’ve had a package . . .

Of delicious, creamy pumpkin pie loose tea for over a year now and I’ve only used it… once. Only because I had no kind of tea infuser or whatever else you use to make loose tea. I sorta just gave up on it and it remained in the darkest part of my cupboard.

As fall descended upon us this year and the thought of pumpkin everything filled my mind, I remembered about my dear old friend, Creamy Pumpkin Pie Tea. I decided it would be nice to bring him out of the darkness and finally enjoy his presence.

So.. what to do with him now? Thanks to my other friend, Mr. Google, I searched the web looking for DIY tea bag tutorials. I noticed there was a trend of using coffee filters but they were all the bleached kind. In my healthy mind, body and soul living, bleached is a no-no.

I dug out some old unbleached, completely compostable coffee filters we used to use with our old coffee pot. Bingo! No bleach and virtually no waste because they can go in my DIY trash can compost bin.

These DIY unbleached tea bags are so totally easy to make and would be such a cute gift to give; whether it be for Christmas, a wedding, baby shower, birthday, or just an “I-love-you-and-appreciate-you” gift.

One of the great things about these DIY unbleached tea bags is that you can customize whatever type of loose tea you want. You can create your own concoctions or buy pre-mixed in bulk.

You don’t necessarily need a sewing machine to make this. However using one greatly reduces the time it takes per bag.

Why Not Just Buy a Tea Ball?

Hey, no one is stopping (or judging) you if you want to buy a tea ball instead — I won’t be offended. I really like this one HERE. If you are not really a crafty person, I could see where buying a tea ball would be way more efficient. HOWEVER… These tea bags are very simple to make, I promise. When I made these, it was my second time sewing. Plus, they are super-cute, make unique gifts and are waaaayyy easier and convenient to take with you on the go.

You don’t want to be that person with the big bag of loose tea and a tea ball… do you? Just kidding, I’d still like you if you were that person. But I’m serious about the easier, more convenient part! Plus, if you like different kinds of teas throughout the day, you can make a few with various mixtures to satisfy your tea cravings. With a tea ball, you are sorta stuck with what you’ve got.

Just make them, you won’t regret it.

How To Make Tea Bags

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Tools Necessary:

Directions:

  1. I found the best size for DIY tea bags are 2.5″ wide by 2″ tall. To make this cut, start on your first side (the right) and measure two inches down, make a mark.
  2. Next, measure the top side two and half inches out; draw a line. Mimick this and draw a line on the bottom side two and a half inches out. Close the rectangle by drawing a line, on the left side, two inches down. Cut out the rectangle with a good pair of scissors.
  3. At this point, you’ll have one really long piece with a crease in the middle; cut it. Now you are left with two identical 2.5″ x 2″ pieces of coffee filter
  4. Using your sewing machine (or needle and thread… make sure you thread your needle), sew three sides of the tea bag. The side that is left open should be the side measuring two inches across.
  5. Fill your tea bag with 2 tsp of your favorite loose tea
  6. Sew the remaining side closed; make sure to push all the tea to the side so you don’t sew over loose tea
  7. Trim off any excess threads
  8. If you are not adding any string to the tea bag: Leave as is! You have sewed the tea bag shut and do not need to take any further steps.
  9. If you ARE adding string to the tea bag:

Measure out how long you’d like your string to be. Fold top corners in. Place string in the middle of the two folded in corners, hold the string in place with one finger then with your other hand, fold top over; staple shut.

Personalize with whatever greeting you’d like. To attach the greeting to the string: Glue the end of the string to the back side of your greeting. Create a blank back side and glue it to the back of your greeting. Make sure the “pretty side” is facing out.

Make as a gift basket or enjoy yourself. Don’t forget to remove staple and greeting (if you added this) and place in your compost when you’re done.

About Loriel

Loriel is the author of Naturally Loriel.

She is a mother of one young boy who keeps her on her feet and motivated to continue to learn how to make her home and world a better place to live in.

She enjoys activism work related to GMO’s and hopes to inspire people to think about their health, feel nourished, believe and create a radiating happy soul.

You can follow Loriel on Facebook and Pin with her on Pinterest.

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About HEATHER

Heather is a holistic health educator, herbalist, DIYer, Lyme and mold warrior. Since founding Mommypotamus.com in 2009, Heather has been taking complicated health research and making it easy to understand. She shares tested natural recipes and herbal remedies with millions of naturally minded mamas around the world. 

Leave a Comment

40 thoughts on “DIY Unbleached Tea Bags”

  1. I’m glad Im not the only girl who uses her quilting supply’s to sew paper….now to look for some yummy pumpkin spice tea!

    Reply
  2. I do not understand the use of tea bags at all. I brew loose leaf tea right in my mug using a stainless steel basket infuser. Works like a charm, and I don’t have to throw anything away. Not to mention…it’s a hell of a lot less work than *making* tea bags. Who would willingly do that? 🙂

    Reply
  3. Oddly this is the 2nd home made tea bag I’ve see today. They are cute but I don’t get it…why do all that when I can just use a tea ball?

    Reply
  4. Roxanne Rieske, Elizabeth Mimitz – Here are some thoughts on that from the post:

    “Hey, no one is stopping (or judging) you if you want to buy a tea ball instead — I won’t be offended. I really like tea infuser baskets like this one HERE. If you are not really a crafty person, I could see where buying a tea ball or tea infuser basket would be way more efficient. HOWEVER… These tea bags are very simple to make, I promise. When I made these, it was my second time sewing. Plus, they are super-cute, make unique gifts and are waaaayyy easier and convenient to take with you on the go.

    You don’t want to be that person with the big bag of loose tea and a tea ball… do you? Just kidding, I’d still like you if you were that person. But I’m serious about the easier, more convenient part! Plus, if you like different kinds of teas throughout the day, you can make a few with various mixtures to satisfy your tea cravings. With a tea ball, you are sorta stuck with what you’ve got.”

    Reply
    • One major problem with a tea infuser is that the mesh holes are much larger than a coffee filter or fabric. Some loose leaf teas I have partially fall out of my tea infusers and I have visible chunks in my tea or sediment at the bottom of my mug. What works for you is great for you, but I fail to see the point in commenting on a post just to knock it down.

      Reply
  5. Some people like to be crafty and make gifts for people and that is why I was inspired to make unbleached tea bags. I love the fact that you can personalize the greeting with words to nourish the person’s soul, as well as give them a tea that will nourish their body.

    Certainly, if you don’t have time (although this really only took me about 15 mins from start to finish and I don’t even know how to sew) a tea ball or the tea infuser is more practical.

    Reply
  6. I can see making them as a gift. For some reason I was under the impression this was for just every day tea drinking, and that didn’t seem very efficient at all! 😉 They are super cute as a gift especially with the personalized tags.

    Reply
  7. Terrific idea & a very lovely handmade with Aloha end product. Who wouldn’t totally appreciate & love this as a gift or just have a great experience every time you made yourself a cup of tea! Mahalo nui loa for sharing this! Aloha nui!

    Reply
  8. Love this as a gift idea!

    I’d love to know how you make creamy pumpkin spice tea. I’m sort of a newbie to brewing loose leaf and herbal teas. I use a fine mesh basket infuser also and I love it for making chamomile tea.

    It’d be awesome to have a post on making a good cup of loose leaf or herbal tea or a book recommendation. 🙂

    Reply
      • Sorry! I was skimming over it and missed the details. 🙂

        I would love more info on crafting herbal teas for different tastes and benefits. 🙂 thanks for the awesome posts. Love this blog!

        Reply
  9. Love this idea! Will definitely have to keep it on a visible “To Do” list instead of lost in the Pinterest archives. 🙂

    Reply
  10. I was going to say her argument for making these “to-go” is rather weak. It’s a lot of work for a product that has already taken the hassle out of it — the tea ball and other infusers. HOWEVER, she should have said “gifts” and emphasized that. I would totally make these as gifts because they’re economical and from the heart if you make a special blend for someone. I just might do it this Christmas. 🙂

    Reply
  11. I think this is a great idea! I, however, am not crafty in this way, I don’t know how to hold a needle and thread, much less how to use a sewing machine! 🙂
    This is the infuser I use, https://www.amazon.com/HIC-Brands-that-Cook-Infuser/dp/B000I1ZZ24/ref=sr_1_5?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1387010866&sr=1-5&keywords=tea+infuser
    I’ve tried the ball infuser, but the one I had wouldn’t stay snapped shut, it ended up taking a flight to the trash bin the second time it dumped the tea dregs in my mug.
    I am a devoted tea drinker. I love Irish Breakfast tea from Harney and Sons, and drink it all winter, two or three times a day if the weather is really cold and blustery.
    Thank you for sharing so many wonderful things with us, I really appreciate your time and ideas!

    Reply
  12. We buy tea and all of our other major household staples in bulk. I really love the idea of creating our own tea bags and customizing them to make gifts. They are ideal for all occasions!

    Reply
  13. Love these as a gift idea but stumped as to the point of the staple… you sew the last side shut after adding the tea so why do you need to add a staple? I get it if you’re adding the string, but the instructions said to add a staple even when not.

    Is there something I missed?

    Reply
      • No worries Loriel – thought I’d check in case there was something I missed!

        Love the idea of adding individual tags, which is good I think if you’re gifting a cup & saucer set with only a couple of teabags as an extra. That wrapped in a clear compostable cellulose, with a pretty bow would be lovely I think.

        Not sure I’d bother with individual tags if I was gifting a whole box of teabags.

        Hmm… I wonder about the possibilities of using a safe food dye to dye the papers would be? Colour code each tea bag type for example. And probably the tea itself!!!

        Reply
  14. WHat is the point. You’ve got to BUY the coffee filters if you’ve not already got them. WHat about the good old-fashioned TEAPOT???? Just put a couple of spoonsful of tea in and the water – done! You can use a strainer if you wish or just pour it ‘au naturelle’. To clean the pot, put some water in, swish and empty it on to the garden – done – no waste, no time, no cost. This reminds me of the advert of the people standing on an escalator shouting for help because it had stopped, or the story of the NASA Space Program that paid a fortune for someone to invent a biro that would work in a weightless environment while the Russians gave their astronauts pencils!!! I’d rather spend my time knitting a tea cosy than making tea bags!!! For a gift, find a lovely old teapot, milk jug or strainer in a junk shop and give with a small pack of tea.

    Reply
    • I guess some people just don’t like loose leaf tea in their teapot which then clogs up the spout and ends up in the cup. I know I don’t.

      I make and drink my own herbal & fruit teas, which I also give as gifts. Previously I needed to locate small sets of matching jars in order to give more than one tea type. The teabags solve that and mean my expenditure can instead go on the lovely tea cup set or tea pot so the gift has greater lasting value.

      And yep, I use teabags IN my teapot.

      Reply
  15. Thanks for the detailed post. I’m about to go make a batch of bags for my medicinal tea 🙂 In my case a tea ball doesn’t hold all the tiny hairs from certain herbs that I use.

    Reply
  16. I don’t understand the point of cutting the fold if you’re just going to sew it back together. Why not leave the better seam where it already is? Help me out?

    Reply
  17. Hi Heather!

    I just thought I’d let you know that the picture at the top of this page doesn’t seem to be loading. I’ve tried multiple times a few times today with no luck. I even tried on my poor iPhone 4, but it doesn’t want to work.

    K

    Reply
  18. I had the loose tea problem as well. I like the convenience of tea bags, but didn’t even think about making a tea bag for them. I will say that I’ve heard “tea experts” say that tea is best left loose in the water to get the most out of it. That still leaves the problem of how to get the leaves out. I have found (after MUCH trial and error), that using your coffee strainer (the reusable kind and cleaned of course) from your machine does a GREAT job of filtering all the swimming pieces of delicious tea. Plus, it was something I already have, free is good. I just poured my steeping tea with its loose leaves over the filter into a jar.

    Reply