this post was submitted on 10 Jan 2025
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[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

This study is such bullshit. They took 300 teabags and boiled them in 600ml of water while stirring at 750rpm for an unspecified amount of time, and claim their method to be an accurate simulation of making a cup of tea.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I had trouble believing you at first so I hunted down the study https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653524026377?via%3Dihub to verify. You're completely right!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago

Three teabag types were purchased online (Amazon and AliExpress) or in a local supermarket. The online-purchased teabags were ordered empty (with no tea inside) and with a known polymer composition

The third teabag type (sample 3), bought in the supermarket, was a regular tea brand of green tea

300 teabags were transferred into a 1 L beaker (pre-washed and sterilized) containing 600 mL of Milli-Q water at 95 ◦C with constant stirring (750 rpm).

It sounds like they were using a magnetic stir bar rather than a spoon or rod but still, 300 teabags, most of which coming empty from Amazon or AliExpress in 600ml is ridiculous.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago

It’s almost too absurd to believe.

There’s a conversation to be had about microplastic contamination, but this study feels and sounds like bad faith argument.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

They probably microwaved the water too, and didn’t use a saucer. No mention of when they put the milk in?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Not clicking but if this is the one from a while ago its specifically about plastic teabags. And, like, obviously.

If you stir with a plastic spoon you'll have even more

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

What if I exclusively drink out of disposable plastic mugs? That's still fine, right?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Oh MY teabag. Because I’M the one at fault here & not billionaires who demanded more profits by any means which ended up being making teabags from microplastics.

F off, we’re not buying headlines like that anymore. It’s NOT MY FAULT that these things exist & there’s usually no financial alternative to it.

THE BILLIONAIRE IS TO BLAME HERE.

edit: OP obviously this is aimed at the magazine & not at you posting this

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

edit: OP obviously this is aimed at the magazine & not at you posting this

That’s cool. Personally I can’t stand the stuff, I’m alcohol total.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago

Pro tip from someone who encounters these tea bags a lot and was already uncomfortable with them. Open the bag and put it in a french press or metal loose leaf holder

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Buying lots of premium tea isn't that much more expensive...

Why won't you guys do it?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Tea bags are about convenience. No need to portion them out and fewer utensils involved which means less washing up and it makes them much easier to use on the go.