For centuries, tea has been a cherished beverage across cultures, celebrated for its soothing qualities, rich flavours, and deep-rooted traditions. While loose-leaf tea was once the only way to enjoy a freshly brewed cup, the invention of tea bag revolutionized convenience and accessibility, making tea drinking easier and more widespread than ever before.
The tea bag, as we know it today, has two possible origin stories, both driven by the need for convenience.
In 1901, Roberta C. Lawson and Mary Molaren from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, patented a “Tea-leaf Holder”, designed to simplify tea brewing by allowing tea to steep directly in a cup without loose leaves floating around. Their concept was meant to make single-cup brewing easier and less wasteful.
Another widely recognized story attributes the invention to Thomas Sullivan, an American tea merchant based in New York. In 1908, Sullivan sent out tea samples in small silk pouches, expecting customers to empty the contents into a teapot. Instead, they dunked the entire pouch in hot water, finding it a simple and mess-free brewing method. Although Sullivan continued with loose leaf tea, he was eventually prompted to offer tea in bags due to customers’ feedback, popularising this method.
Since then, tea bags were commercialised and have evolved into various formats, including paper, fabric, and biodegradeable materials, catering to different consumer needs and sustainability efforts.
As tea culture continues to evolve, modern consumers seek more than just convenience. Consumers of today’s age desire indulgence, unique flavours, personalisation and a multisensory experience. The rise of premium tea blends, fusion flavours and functional ingredients demonstrates a shift towards a more sophisticated and experiential tea drinking behaviour. Consumers today look for unexpected flavour pairings, rich aromatic profiles, and teas that offer moment of indulgence while still representative of traditional cultures and their personal values.
At KH Roberts, we are redefining what tea bags can offer with Caproma® granules – the range of encapsulated flavours that are designed to meet the needs of applications requiring coarser particle sizes, such as tea bag infusions. From granulated sugar, cereal mix to tea dust, Caproma® granules reduce dusting, prevent inconsistent mixes and provide the flexibility to deliver an outlasting flavour solution.
Find out more about Caproma® range here.
KH Roberts continues to push the boundaries of flavour innovation in tea applications. As consumers seek adventurous flavours and personalised experiences, they crave tea that reflect their unique tastes, moods, nutritional needs and even cultural heritages. Brands now have the opportunity to craft customised tea experiences with tailored flavour profiles and functional ingredients, creating a deeper connection with consumers.
How can we co-create a tea experience that is uniquely yours and resonates with your audience? Let’s bring personalised tea innovations to life with Caproma® granules.
References:
Dockrill, P. (2015, August 21). A brief history of the tea bag. TIME. https://time.com/3996712/a-brief-history-of-the-tea-bag/
UK Tea & Infusions Association. (n.d.). The history of the tea bag. UK Tea & Infusions Association. https://www.tea.co.uk/the-history-of-the-tea-bag
