Dip Tea: A Cup Full of Microplastics
By: Dr Aftab jan
Tea has been a cherished drink for centuries, not only as a source of refreshment but as a part of culture, tradition, and social bonding; from the green tea ceremonies of Japan to the spiced chai of the Indian subcontinent, it has always been associated with comfort, hospitality, and health benefits.
In recent years, green tea especially has gained fame for its antioxidants, catechins, and potential role in reducing risks of heart disease, obesity, and certain cancers, yet the way we prepare and consume it has shifted from natural, loose-leaf brewing to the modern convenience of dip tea bags.
This shift, while convenient in our fast-paced world, hides a disturbing reality—most tea bags are not just paper but are sealed with heat-resistant plastics like polypropylene or made entirely from nylon or PET (polyethylene terephthalate), which means every time we dip that bag into boiling water, billions of microplastic and nanoplastic particles are released into the very drink we consider healthy.
Research from McGill University in Canada has shown that just one plastic-based dip tea bag, when steeped in hot water at around 95°C, can release over 11.6 billion microplastic particles and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles—an amount far higher than what is typically found in bottled water or other beverages, and far beyond what our body can naturally filter out.
These microscopic fragments, invisible to the naked eye, enter our digestive system, travel through the bloodstream, and have been found lodged in human organs such as the liver, kidneys, spleen, and even crossing the blood-brain barrier. They can cause inflammation, disrupt hormones, weaken the immune system, and contribute to the development of chronic diseases.
Over time, constant exposure to these plastics is linked with fertility issues, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular stress, and even neurological conditions, as studies have shown that nanoplastics can interfere with neurotransmitter functions and damage brain cells.
The problem is not confined to black or green tea; herbal infusions, flavored blends, and so-called “detox” teas packed in synthetic mesh bags are equally guilty. Even those marketed as “silky” or “luxury” tea bags are often made from fine plastic mesh, which may look elegant but are essentially delivering a cocktail of petrochemical fragments into every sip.
People, unaware of this hidden danger, continue to consume these drinks daily, sometimes multiple cups a day, unknowingly filling their bodies with a substance that nature never designed us to digest. In Islam, the body is considered an amanah (trust) from Allah, and we are commanded to protect it from harm. The Qur’an reminds us: “And do not throw yourselves into destruction with your own hands” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:195). This verse, while broad in meaning, applies powerfully here—when we have knowledge that a certain habit introduces poison into our system, continuing it without necessity becomes a form of self-harm.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also said: “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm” (Ibn Majah), which extends to the food and drink we choose to consume. When the world markets dip tea as a symbol of modern convenience, but science exposes it as a slow poison, we as mindful individuals and especially as Muslims are obligated to rethink our choices.
The irony deepens when we consider that many people shift to green tea for health, weight loss, or “detox,” believing it to be a step toward a cleaner lifestyle, yet the very vessel delivering the drink is contaminating it at a microscopic level. Microplastics, once inside the human body, are not inert; they can leach chemical additives such as bisphenols, phthalates, and heavy metals used in manufacturing plastics, each with its own array of toxic effects.
These chemicals mimic hormones, leading to endocrine disruption, which can affect reproductive health, mood stability, and metabolic balance. The liver, our main detox organ, becomes overburdened trying to neutralize these toxins, while the kidneys face stress filtering micro-sized debris that can scar and weaken their filtering capacity over time. In the digestive tract, microplastics can alter gut microbiota balance, contributing to inflammation, bloating, and impaired nutrient absorption—subtly undermining health in ways most people never trace back to their “harmless” cup of tea.
Socially, the use of dip tea bags reflects the speed and convenience culture dominating our era. In earlier generations, tea preparation was an act of pause—a moment where water simmered slowly, leaves unfurled in a teapot, and people gathered for conversation.
Now, with lives rushed by deadlines and digital distractions, the dip tea bag offers an instant fix: dunk, wait 30 seconds, and move on. While it may save time, it costs us health and erodes the mindful, communal aspect of tea drinking. Moreover, the global consumption of billions of plastic-based tea bags every year also adds to the environmental crisis, as these bags do not fully decompose.
Disposed of in landfills or waterways, they break down into smaller fragments, polluting soil, rivers, and oceans, eventually re-entering the food chain through fish, crops, and drinking water—meaning the harm we cause to the earth loops back to harm us. The Qur’an warns against corruption on earth: “And do not cause corruption upon the earth after its reformation” (Surah Al-A’raf 7:56). Throwing microplastics into the environment through our consumption habits is a form of corruption, especially when alternatives exist.
Alternatives indeed are many: switching to loose-leaf tea brewed in a stainless steel infuser, glass teapot, or even biodegradable paper tea bags made without plastic linings can entirely avoid this problem. From an Islamic perspective, such conscious change aligns with the principle of tayyib—consuming what is pure, wholesome, and beneficial. The Qur’an repeatedly commands believers to eat and drink from what is halal (lawful) and tayyib (pure), and while tea itself is halal, the contamination from microplastics strips it of purity.
Even health authorities like ANSES in France have warned about the plastic content in certain tea bags, calling for more regulation and transparency, yet the industry thrives on consumer ignorance. Many brands, especially those marketing “premium” teas, avoid disclosing their bag materials, focusing instead on flavor notes and exotic origins, knowing that the glossy appeal of convenience sells better than a conversation about microscopic toxins.
The human cost of ignoring this truth will not remain hidden forever. Already, autopsies have detected microplastics in human placentas, meaning these particles can pass from mother to child before birth—an alarming reality that should stir moral responsibility. As a society, if we continue normalizing harmful habits because they are easy or trendy, we risk raising generations with compromised health from the womb onward.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that the strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, though both have goodness; strength here includes physical health, mental clarity, and moral discipline in avoiding harm. Choosing loose-leaf tea over dip bags may seem small, but collectively it is an act of resistance against a system that prioritizes profit over purity.
In the end, tea will remain a beloved drink, but we must reclaim its preparation from the grip of plastic. Let every cup be a reminder that our bodies are trusts, our planet is a trust, and even the smallest daily choices either honor or betray that trust. As we sip, let it be from something wholesome, free from the silent poison of microplastics, so that our tea truly becomes the comfort, cure, and blessing it was meant to be.
