Cotton Bags for Tea Packaging: Loose-Leaf, Sachets & Branded Pouches

Loose leaf needs room to expand, and that is the one thing a metal ball infuser does not give it. A cotton tea bag lets the leaves open fully while still containing them, which is why the same tea tastes noticeably better brewed in muslin than crammed into a strainer.

Why the weave matters

Tea extracts through contact between water and leaf surface. Compressed leaves cannot unfurl, so water flows around the outside of a tight clump instead of through it, and the brew comes out weak and uneven no matter how long you leave it.

Muslin's open weave lets water circulate freely while holding the leaves. It also means you can fill the bag loosely — half full is right — and let the tea do the rest.

Sizes by serving

Fill to about half for brewing. Leaves expand to several times their dry volume, and a packed bag defeats the purpose.

Retail packaging for tea brands

Cotton does two things foil cannot. It looks like the product inside is loose, whole-leaf tea rather than dust, and the customer keeps the bag afterwards.

The trade-off is aroma. A breathable bag lets volatile oils escape, so for a product sitting on a shelf for months use a sealed inner with the cotton bag as the outer. For direct sales, subscriptions and market stalls where tea moves quickly, cotton alone is fine and much nicer to handle.

6x8 inches suits 50–100g retail; 8x10 takes 250g.

DIY sachets and blending

Small bags let customers or cafes make single-serve sachets from loose blends — useful for gifting, sampling and hotel rooms. A 2x3 or 3x4 bag filled and cinched is a tea bag with no staple, no string tag and no plastic mesh.

The same bags work for herbal infusions, mulling spices and cold-brew tea. For scented drawer sachets rather than brewing, see DIY muslin sachet bags.

Food safety

Wash before first use. Our cotton is GOTS certified organic and AZO-free — no azo dyes, no pesticide residues — which is the standard to ask for on anything that steeps in hot water you then drink. A general claim that fabric is "natural" is not the same thing. See what GOTS organic cotton means.

Use unbleached natural rather than dyed bags for brewing. There is no reason to introduce a dye to something steeping in near-boiling water.

Care between uses

• Rinse in hot water immediately after use and squeeze out.
• Do not use detergent if you can avoid it — residue carries into the next brew.
• Boil occasionally for a few minutes to sanitise, especially if the bag is used daily.
• Air dry fully before storing. A damp bag in a drawer develops mould.
• Expect staining from black tea, chai and turmeric blends. Cosmetic only.

Ordering

See 2x3, 3x4 and 4x6 cotton drawstring bags for brewing sizes, or all cotton muslin bags for retail sizes. For branded tea packaging from 100 pieces, custom drawstring bags with your logo. Related: small muslin bag sizes and cotton bags for spices and herbs.

Frequently asked questions