How Many Times Can You Use A Commercial Tea Bag? (Find Out Now!)

If you’re a tea lover, you’ve probably wondered, “how many times can I reuse a tea bag?”. To that, I say brave – but valid question.

In general, you can reuse a tea bag once or twice more. However, there are many factors, including taste, cost, and your own “ew” tolerance, that you might want to consider before deciding whether it’s really worth it. That said, if your tea bag has been sitting out for more than just “a couple of minutes,” you’re better off throwing it out or repurposing it in nature.

Before you decide on whether or not to reuse your tea bag, let’s discuss factors to consider and the many intricacies of using tea bags.

What are tea bags made of?

While you can get tea in reusable cotton bags, most commercial tea bags are disposable and made of bleached filter paper or food-grade plastics. Often these tea bags are sealed with glue or staples. And some are even finished off with a cotton string and brand label.

But as convenient as commercial teabags are, you’ll rarely see me using them. Here’s why.

Are commercial tea bags bad?

Not only are most commercial tea bags bad for the environment – because the materials they’re made with cannot be fully composted – but they may also be bad for your health.

One study found that steeping a single plastic teabag at 95C (203F) released over 11 billion microplastics and 3 billion nano plastics into a single cup, which is crazy.

And if you’re thinking, “doesn’t everything we eat have microplastics” or “it’s not that bad,” remember that your consumption of micro plastics adds up, and the effects might not show up until much later in life.

How long can a tea bag sit out?

How long a tea bag can sit out depends on how you prepare your tea (i.e., what temperature, blend, and tools you use) and factors like cleanliness.

In general, it’s OK to brew your tea once, twice, maybe even thrice more in one sitting. But if you’re on the fence about reusing your tea bag or it’s been more than “just a few minutes ” since your tea’s bags been sitting out, store it in the fridge for later. Or better yet, toss it out and grab yourself a new one.

My experience reusing and storing commercial tea bags

So how many times can you use a tea bag? My response would be, ideally, none.

But if you must for whatever reason reuse a tea bag, he best way to store it is to put it in a clean air-tight container or zip-lock bag and in the fridge. Doing so will eliminate the chances of contaminants in the fridge (or pathogens in the air) coming into contact with your tea bag. It’ll also slow down the decomposition process since bacteria and mold grow incredibly quickly.

But eventually, all used tea bags go bad – even those stored properly in the fridge.

If your tea bag smells weird or looks funny, then definitely take it to the trash (or compost bin).

Creative ways to reuse tea bags:

With food waste becoming a growing problem and grocery prices soaring, you might wonder. How else can I make use of my tea bags? If you’re adamant about it, here are a few ideas:

1. Use it in a smoothie
2. Make tea eggs
3. Make a tea scrub
4. Make tea stain paper

Alternatively, you can always repurpose your tea leftovers in the garden or put them in the compost bin.

Wrapping it up

Whether you’re a fan of more caffeinated black and pu-erh teas, or less caffeinated teas, using a tea bag can be a fantastic and convenient way to enjoy a nice cuppa tea or even cook up something delicious in the kitchen. You can reuse your tea bags more than once, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference, taste, and safety. Drink safely.