Your Tea Bags May Leach Millions of Microplastics—Avoid Them with These Tea Brewing Tools, from $6

By Samira Vishwas On Mar 26, 2026

Make the most out of your brew.

Credit: Photo: Stefania Pelfini la Waziya/Getty Images. EatingWell design.

Key Points

Recent studies have shown that tea bags may leech microplastics.
Brewing loose-leaf tea is a great alternative to using tea bags, which may release microplastics into your drink.
Stainless steel and glass tea tools, like the Hiware Glass Teapot or KitchenAid’s Electric Kettleare safe, microplastic-free options for brewing your favorite tea.

Tea has been having a bit of a moment lately. Two separate studies have recently made headlines. One study from the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Spain found that microplastics from tea bags may leech into your drink. Another study conducted by researchers from Northwestern University found that tea (especially black tea) can actually absorb heavy metals like lead during the brewing process.

While the second study is good news, all of this can feel pretty overwhelming for a drink so many of us consume daily, if not multiple times a day. With plastics at the forefront, one great place to start is to brew loose-leaf tea, and there are plenty of ways to do it. Stainless steel and glass are microplastic-free, widely used and considered to be safe for food. We’ve compiled a list of editor-recommended options for brewing tea (bonus, they’re also bestsellers), including teapots and tea strainersand all of them fit the bill.

Bestselling Tea Brewing Tools

Jexcull 3-Piece Snap Ball Tea Strainer Set$6
Fu Store 2-Piece Stainless Steel Mesh Tea Ball Set$7
Hiware Glass Teapot with Removable Infuser$25 (was $30)
KitchenAid 1.7-Liter Electric Kettle$160, originally $180

Jexcull 3-Piece Snap Ball Tea Strainer Set

Assistant general brand manager Penelope Wall is an at-home tea brewing aficionado. She uses tea strainers nearly identical to these, though her exact ones are no longer available to shop. She loves that they can be used in any mug or vessel—just fill it with ground tea and place it into your cup with hot water. The long handle makes these easy to grab, and they don’t flop around in the mug, Wall said. You get three in this set, so there’s enough to go around for multiple batches. The basket is enough to accommodate fine tea leaves, which helps with heavy metal absorption. And, bonus tip from Wall: These are excellent for steeping ingredients into drinks like mulled cider.

Fu Store 2-Piece Stainless Steel Mesh Tea Ball Set

Wall also recommends having a few of these on hand because they’re ideal for hanging into deeper teapots. They hook right onto the side from their 1.6-inch chain, making them easy to get out when you’re ready to serve the tea. To close the tea ball, a nifty clasp ensures it stays shut even if the ball moves around. Use both tea balls for large pots of tea, or opt for one if you’re brewing a smaller one.

Hiware Glass Teapot with Removable Infuser

~~$30~~

Another tea must-have for Wall is a teapot with an infuser since it makes quick work of steeping multiple cups at a time. This option is excellent because it doesn’t contain any plastic. The pot is constructed of heat-resistant borosilicate glass, and both the strainer and lid are made of stainless steel. The built-in strainer is made with fine mesh, so you can pour your tea without worrying about remnants sneaking into your mug. It holds 1,000 millimeters or roughly 4 cups, so there’s plenty of space for a few cups for yourself or guests.

KitchenAid 1.7-Liter Electric Kettle

~~$180~~

This nifty electric kettle is Wall’s favorite because of the different temperature dials, which keep her from overheating and scalding her tea or coffee, resulting in a better, tastier brew. The interior is made of stainless steel and holds up to 1.7 liters for ample space. Use it for tea, coffee, ramen and more.