Stash Tea Tea Bags
100% cellulose paper bag, machine folded and pressed with no glue, on a cotton string - the bag contains no plastic.
The verdict: Plastic-free
Stash's filter paper is 100% cellulose (wood) fiber, machine-folded and pressed so, in the company's words, no glue is needed or used - so there's no adhesive or thermoplastic sealant in the bag. It hangs from a cotton string with a paper tag, closed with a metal staple (not plastic). Stash also confirms the paper is not chlorine-dioxide bleached. Nothing plastic steeps in the cup.
Verification: Manufacturer confirmed
What it's made of
| Part | Material | Food contact |
|---|---|---|
| filter bag 100% cellulose (wood) fiber; machine folded and pressed, no glue | Paper | Yes primary 🔥 |
| string Non-GMO cotton | Cotton | No |
| tag | Paper | No |
| staple metal, at the top of the bag - not plastic | Metal unspecified | No |
Stash is a Portland, Oregon brand with a large supermarket range of black, green, and herbal teas. The bag is a flat paper style on a stapled cotton string with a paper tag.
Pros
- Fold-and-press construction seals the bag with no glue
- Confirmed free of chlorine-dioxide bleaching
- Cotton string, paper tag
Cons
- Independent lab (Mamavation) results vary sharply by line - the Double Bergamot Earl Grey bag tested 388 ppm fluorine (high) while chamomile was 16 ppm (low); a PFAS marker separate from plastic
- The metal staple isn't compostable
Categories: Tea Bags
Sources
Every material claim above is backed by these. This is the scattered info we centralized.
- manufacturer https://www.stashtea.com/pages/faq 100% cellulose bag, machine folded/pressed (no glue), no chlorine dioxide, states bags contain no plastic
- review https://mamavation.com/food/teas-pfas-forever-chemicals-guide.html EPA-certified-lab fluorine screen - Stash chamomile bag 16 ppm, Double Bergamot Earl Grey bag 388 ppm
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