Tazo Earl Grey Black Tea (20ct filterbags)

Tazo's standard rectangular filterbags are paper heat-sealed with polypropylene. Hernandez et al. 2019 (Environ. Sci. Technol., McGill) measured ~11.6 billion microplastic and ~3.1 billion nanoplastic particles released per cup from plastic-containing tea bags brewed at 95 °C. Banaei et al. 2024 (Chemosphere, UAB Barcelona) confirmed polypropylene bags shed ~1.2 billion particles per mL and demonstrated particle uptake by human intestinal cells in vitro. There is no established safe exposure threshold for chronic ingestion of polypropylene nanoplastics from food contact materials.

'Natural flavors' is a regulatory catch-all (FDA 21 CFR 101.22) that can include dozens of undisclosed compounds, processing aids, and solvents. Adds nothing of nutritional value and erodes ingredient transparency.

Cold-pressed bergamot peel oil contributes flavonoids (neoeriocitrin, naringin, neohesperidin) and aromatic terpenes (linalyl acetate, linalool). Some clinical evidence for mild lipid-lowering and anxiolytic effects at higher doses than tea provides, but the aromatic profile is the main draw here.

Black tea is rich in theaflavins and catechins; habitual consumption is linked to modest cardiovascular benefits (Hodgson 2008). Caffeinated.