It will come as a shock to you that many of your favorite tea brands have a wide range of chemicals and various additives. This has been shown in new lab tests. We have conducted research and linked to this article which provides an in-depth report of the toxic chemicals found in several common tea brands.
The facts cannot any longer be kept secret from the world. It would be understandable if you become upset after knowing that these teas have high amounts of pesticides and various other hazardous chemicals.
Pesticides
Many herbs used in making tea reach the drying process without even being washed. In other words, non-organic tea has pesticide residues. Many tea brands, even those which are believed to be pesticide-free and organic, have pesticides called carcinogens in amounts that cross the allowed US/EU limits.
Wu Healing by Glaucus Research describes a practice that can be seen as a criminal practice. You should read it thoroughly because it gives you the real story of what is going on today.
Teabag Material
You must have often seen that teabags are made of plastics (they can potentially leach molecules on soaking in boiling water). Other materials include paper processed using wet strength agents like polymerized epichlorohydrin, and corn-based biodegradable materials (possibly GMO)
Unpolymerized epichlorohydrin is used within pest control techniques. It is also a potential carcinogen. Lab tests may have shown that both tea bags and coffee filters have these compounds in small quantities, but they are still there (source).
One way to prevent leaching from teabags is to switch to loose leaf tea. But you can still enjoy your favorite tea using this method. You can take a teapot and remove all the content from it. Then prepare the tea using the old method involving a strainer. You can compare the two methods to see if you notice any change in flavor.
Natural Flavors
We all think that natural flavors have some natural origin. But they can also be made from animal/plant sources. They could also undergo different processing methods.
The way you react to it may be much more than just being allergic, it could also be due to the processing. Although certain compounds used natural flavors can also be disgusting. They can have castoreum without you ever knowing it.
Artificial Flavors
Have you ever thought about why tea requires flavoring? Modern agriculture methods can be so aggressive that the final product could be tasteless. This will require flavorings so that the tea could actually taste as tea should. So make sure to check the label if they say ‘flavorings’ or ‘flavors’.
All this happens because these corporations are focused on creating marketable products, increasing profits, and cutting costs. All this means a lack of focus on quality.
When people will start demanding higher quality foods, these corporations will be forced by the laws of supply. It is you who should decide what to do. You should be more careful about the quality of your food. Make sure to research and make contributions to create a better world.
Please have a look at this chart featuring some teas which came out with their reputations intact.
Via Food Babe | Natural Medicine Box | Herbs Info | The New Daily