Hampsted Organic & Biodynamic Darjeeling Tea Bags

At Hampstead Tea, we’ve spent 25 years obsessing over what happens to your tea bag after you’ve enjoyed your brew. We believe that tea should be a pure, circular ritual—from the biodynamic soil to your cup, and back to the earth. However, as the world wakes up to the devastating impact of single-use plastics on our marine life and health, a new confusion has emerged in the tea aisle: the rise of "plant-based" plastics, or PLA.

The PLA Problem: Why "Plant-Based" Isn’t Always Plastic-Free Many well-known tea brands have recently announced they are "plastic-free" because they have switched to PLA (Polylactic Acid). While PLA is derived from renewable resources like cornstarch or sugar cane rather than petroleum, it is still a bioplastic polymer.

In 2026, the savvy tea drinker is asking: Does "plant-based" actually mean free from microplastics? The reality is that PLA behaves very much like traditional plastic in high temperatures. Most PLA tea bags are "heat-sealed," meaning the edges are fused together using these bioplastic agents. When exposed to near-boiling water (the 95°C–100°C required for a perfect black tea), these polymers can release microscopic particles directly into your infusion.

The Hampstead Pioneer: Why We Use the Stitch Method We have never been interested in following trends that don't fit our beliefs. This is why we were the first tea company in the UK to adopt the stitch method—a purely mechanical process that avoids sealants entirely. While many brands rely on heat-sealing (often using PLA), our process remains focused on material purity: Mechanical Folds: We fold our unbleached wood-pulp paper. Organic Cotton Stitching: We secure the fold with a simple stitch of organic cotton thread. No Glues, No Staples: By removing the need for chemical or plastic "fusing," we ensure that nothing but organic tea is released into your water.

The Composting Trap: Industrial vs. Home Compostable The biggest "greenwashing" trap in the tea industry today involves composting. PLA tea bags are typically Industrially Compostable. This means they require the high-heat, specialized environment of a commercial facility to break down. If you put a PLA bag in your garden compost, it may remain there for years, shedding microplastics into your soil. In contrast, our 25-year commitment has always been to Home Compostability. Because our bags are made from wood pulp and organic cotton, they are designed to decompose in your backyard bin within 90 days. We believe that a daily habit like drinking tea should feed your garden, not clutter a landfill.

Achieving 100% Plastic-Free in 2026 Transparency is at the heart of everything we do. For years, we were "almost" there—our Earl Grey and Green Tea & Jasmine envelopes required a microscopic barrier to keep their organic essential oils from escaping. We are proud to confirm that as of 2026, all our tea bags and envelopes are 100% plastic-free. We’ve solved the barrier challenge without resorting to bioplastic linings, ensuring your Earl Grey remains as vibrant as the day it was packed, without the environmental cost.

Choose a Cleaner Cup. Don't settle for "plant-based" polymers. Look for the stitch, and ensure your tea is as kind to your body as it is to the planet.