Custom Tea Bags

Packaging for Loose Tea, Not Infuser Bags

The phrase "custom tea bags" covers two very different things. One is the small mesh or filter-paper sachet that goes into a cup. The other is the retail bag a tea shop fills with loose leaves and sells by the ounce. This product is the second: custom tea packaging bags for loose-leaf tea, herbal blends and tisanes, printed with your brand, the tea name and brewing details.

Tea is light, fragrant and fragile. Whole leaves break if they are crushed, the aroma fades if the bag is left open, and strong teas such as smoky lapsang or chai blends will pass their scent to anything nearby. A good tea bag is sized so the leaves aren't packed too tightly, closes well, and gives you room to tell people how to brew.

Buyers include independent tea shops, herbal and wellness brands, online tea sellers, cafés that stock retail tea beside the counter, farmers market herbalists, gift shops and hotels that offer a branded tea as a guest gift. Bubble tea shops sometimes sell their house black or jasmine tea in a branded bag as well.

Sizing by Volume, Not Weight

Teas differ hugely in how much space a given weight takes. Rolled oolongs and gunpowder green are compact; white teas, whole-leaf black teas and herbal blends with petals and leaves are bulky. A bag that holds a certain weight of rolled oolong may only hold half that of a fluffy white tea. Always test-fill with your loosest tea before choosing sizes.

White paper gives clean, bright print and suits wellness and herbal brands. Kraft suits traditional tea houses and natural brands. Food-contact papers meet FDA requirements, and recyclable stock is available if your customers expect eco-friendly loose-leaf tea packaging.

Closures deserve a moment too. Loose tea is opened and closed many times over a few weeks, so a bag that only folds over can let the aroma drift away and let kitchen moisture in. Customers who buy a good oolong or a fragrant jasmine will notice the difference by the last cup. When you request a quote, mention how long a typical bag lasts in a customer's cupboard, and we will suggest a closure that suits that rhythm, from a simple folded top for sampler packs to a resealable option for larger bags. A tin tie, the folding metal strip common on coffee bags, also works well on tea and gives a traditional look on kraft.

What to Print on a Tea Bag

Tea buyers want guidance. Beyond the tea name and your brand, the most useful thing you can print is brewing information: water temperature, steeping time and how much tea per cup. Put it on the back in a small, clear panel; customers return to it every time they make a pot.

• Use one PMS (Pantone) color per tea family: green for green teas, amber for oolongs, deep red for black.
• A window shows leaf quality, which is a strong selling point for whole-leaf tea.
• Gold or silver foil works for gift teas and holiday blends.
• Embossing a logo on a plain bag looks elegant for premium teas.
• Print the origin or estate when you can; specialty tea buyers look for it.

Cafés that brew tea as well as sell it can carry the same look into the cup. Our printed paper tea cups with handles suit tea served at events and tasting counters.

Filling and Storing Tea

Fill tea gently, with a wide scoop, so whole leaves don't break. Avoid pressing down to fit more; crushed leaves brew differently. Close each bag soon after filling and label it. Keep filled bags in a cool, dark, dry place away from coffee, spices and anything else with a strong smell, as tea absorbs odors easily.

For display, line bags up on a shelf with the tea names facing out and a small tasting card nearby. Strong teas should sit in their own section. If you also roast coffee or stock beans, our custom printed coffee bags for roasters come in similar styles, and a shared design keeps the shop looking unified.

How to Order Tea Packaging

1. List your teas and how many ounces you sell of each per bag.
2. Test-fill with your bulkiest tea to settle the sizes.
3. Choose paper, window and finish.
4. Send your logo, tea names and brewing text.
5. Approve the proof; production takes 4 to 6 business days after approval.

The minimum is 100 bags per design, which works for a new blend launch, and volume discounts apply to larger orders. Free design help and free shipping to the USA, Canada, the UK and Australia are included. Send your list through our free tea bag quote request.