I’m sharing how you can avoid sneaking toxins in your cup of tea, so you can enjoy the most out this relaxing and healthful beverage.
I love tea! Whether it’s a matcha latte in the afternoon for a pick-me-up, or a hot cup of calming herbal tea in the evening, I always have a variety of teas on hand: some for energy, some for digestion, some for relaxation… there are so many wonderful teas out there full of incredible health benefits.
One thing that’s not amazing, is that some tea bags aren’t so heart-warming — but rather toxic.
Some tea bags are treated with epichlorohydrin, a plastic that helps to keep the bags from breaking. The issue is that epichlorohydrin can potentially break down in water…and be released into your beverage. The Environmental Protection Agency says drinking water with high levels of epichlorohydrin, over a long period of time, could cause stomach problems and an increased risk of cancer.
The E.P.A. allows up to 20 parts per million in drinking water, and epichlorohydrin-containing bags may include 50 parts per billion.
What Are the Sources of Toxins in Tea?
- Tea bags (as well as many paper coffee filters) can be a problem because of a chemical called epichlorohydrin, which is used to keep the bags from breaking. Epichlorohydrin will leach when exposed to hot water, and is a potential carcinogen and reproductive toxin.
- Tea sachets pose a different risk. These bags are made of either rayon, thermoplastic, polypropylene, or, most commonly, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is considered a safe plastic, with a high melting point. However, PET’s “glass transition” temperature (the temperature at which the material starts to break down) is less than 170 degrees–and boiling water is 212 degrees. So it makes sense that the plastic in these bags can leach into the tea.
- Toxins in the tea itself. Heavy metals from contaminated soil (including lead, aluminium, arsenic, and cadmium) may be present in both organic and conventional teas.
How to Avoid Toxins in Tea
- Avoiding over-steeping can reduce potential heavy metal contamination into your tea. Steep for two to four minutes to reduces the transfer of metals by up to 50 percent.
- Use loose leaf tea or brands that are transparent about their ingredients and testing for toxins.
My Favorite Tea
One of my favorite tea brands, that I sip with ease, is Pique Tea. What do I like about it?
- It’s Effective: a patented Cold Brew Crystallization process preserves active health compounds at maximum potential
- It’s Pure: all teas are triple toxin screened for pesticides, heavy metals and toxic mold
- It’s Accessible: unparalleled full-spectrum absorbability with no prep or brewing required
Pique Tea is an innovative brand of instant tea crystals that dissolve in hot (some also in cold) water. With the many health benefits that come from drinking tea on a regular basis, I could not resist to give these teas a try and see what the hype was all about.
Pique Tea delivers full-spectrum health compounds from the finest teas and superfood plant ingredients to support healthy digestion, immunity, and calm energy.
What are Pique Tea Crystals?
Pique Tea starts with the highest-quality organic tea leaves and herbs that are then cold-brewed for up to 8 hours. This brewing technique gently extracts antioxidants and phytonutrients, resulting in tea with up to 12x the antioxidants of other teas.
Pique Tea offers a range of black, green (including matcha!), and caffeine-free herbal teas. You can purchase individual flavors or various bundles for immune health, gut health, fasting, and calm energy.
I personally love the Sun Goddess Matcha and Cinnamon Herbal Fasting Tea. Browse Pique Tea here.
Use the code ARSY to get 5% off your the first order!
What’s your favorite kind of tea?
