Numi

Organic Tea Bags (Plastic-Free)

Plasticproof Excellent $$$Our price tier

Tea in bags that are genuinely plastic-free: Numi states unbleached Manila hemp filter paper, crimped and knotted rather than heat-sealed with polypropylene, with a cotton string.

Check price on Amazon

Hemp fiber, not plastic meshNo nylon, no PET.

Knotted, not heat-sealedNo polypropylene in the seal.

No fluorinated chemicalsNumi’s stated certification.

See exactly how we verify this

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. We show a "Check price on Amazon" link rather than a number because Amazon prices change often.

Why it's safe for your family

The reason this product exists is that most tea bags are not paper. Heat-sealed bags rely on polypropylene to close, and the pyramid "silken" bags are frequently nylon or PET — which is why steeping them has been measured releasing plastic particles into a hot cup.
Numi states its filter paper is unbleached Manila hemp fiber, and that the bags are crimped and knotted rather than heat-sealed, which is what removes the need for a polypropylene sealing agent entirely.
Numi states the string is 100 percent cotton and the tag is recycled paper with soy-based ink, so the whole assembly that goes into your mug is plant fiber.
Numi states the bags are certified biodegradable, with no fluorinated chemicals added — the specific claim to want on a paper food product, since paper is often given a grease-resistant PFAS treatment.

Is this really plastic-free? Yes — and here’s why

A tea bag has three parts that can hide plastic: the mesh, the seal and the string. Numi states hemp fiber paper, a crimp-and-knot closure with no polypropylene sealing agent, and cotton string with a recycled paper tag. That accounts for all three.

Manila hemp filter paper85%

Cotton string and paper tag15%

What steeps in your cup: plant fiber. No nylon mesh, no PET pyramid, no heat-seal polypropylene.

Quick specs

Bag material

Unbleached Manila hemp fiber (Numi’s stated material)

Closure

Crimped and knotted — no polypropylene heat seal

String

100 percent cotton; recycled paper tag

Certification

Certified biodegradable, no fluorinated chemicals added

Tea

Organic

What to avoid instead

Avoid pyramid "silken" tea bags, which are commonly nylon or PET, and avoid any bag that is heat-sealed, which is closed with polypropylene. If a brand cannot tell you what the bag is made of and how it is closed, treat that as the answer. Loose leaf in a steel infuser avoids the question completely.

How we verify — and what we don't

Straight answer: we're a research team, not a testing lab. Here's exactly what our rating is based on — and what it isn't — so you can weigh it honestly.

What we check

What the product is made of, from the maker's own specs and product listing.
Whether any part that touches you or your food uses PTFE, PFAS, plastic, or a coating that can degrade.
Peer-reviewed research on how that material behaves when heated, scratched, washed, or worn.
Known failure modes — how the product actually breaks down in a real home.

What we don't do

We have not chemically tested this specific unit in a lab.
We don't take payment to rate a product higher — there is no sponsored placement.
We don't show star ratings or "trusted by thousands" counts we can't stand behind.

What gets a product rejected

Anything that adds a known microplastic, PFAS, or off-gassing source — a non-stick coating, a plastic surface against food or skin, vinyl/PVC — is downgraded or cut. We only list what clears that bar.

Don't take our word for it — check the sources yourself Numi's product details

Common questions

How can I tell if my current tea bags have plastic?

Two tells. If the bag is a smooth, slightly shiny pyramid, it is likely nylon or PET. If a flat paper bag is sealed shut without a staple or a knot, it was heat-sealed, which needs polypropylene in the paper. A crimped-and-knotted bag with a cotton string is the plastic-free construction.

Does the bag material change the taste?

Hemp fiber paper is thicker than the thinnest supermarket bags, so infusion can be marginally slower. Give it an extra thirty seconds. Most people notice the absence of the faint plastic note in a hot mug more than any difference in the tea.

Is loose leaf better?

For control and cost, yes — loose leaf with a steel infuser has no bag at all and is cheaper per cup. Bags win on convenience, and if bags are what you will actually use, the construction of the bag is the thing worth getting right.