The Tea on Wellness

Why Loose Leaf Tea Is Healthier

• Vidya

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Loose Leaf vs Tea Bags in Orange County: uncovering the truth about natural flavors, microplastics, and why loose leaf tea is the healthier choice for Laguna Beach and beyond.

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Are you looking for the healthiest tea in Orange County or Southern California? Wondering if loose leaf tea is really better than tea bags? In this episode of The Tea on Wellness, Vidya, founder of Tea & Turmeric in Laguna Beach, uncovers the truth about natural flavors in tea, the hidden problem of microplastics in tea bags, and why people across OC and SoCal are choosing loose leaf teas and plastic free tea bags for a cleaner, healthier, and more flavorful ritual.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

  • What natural flavors really mean and how they are made
  • Why many tea bags contain hidden plastics and what that means for your health
  • Simple ways to avoid microplastics in your tea without giving up convenience
  • Why loose leaf tea is better for both flavor and wellness
  • Where to find plastic free tea bags, vegan tea blends, and organic loose leaf teas in Orange County, Laguna Beach, and SoCal

Resources & Links
🌐 Shop online: teaandturmeric.com (we ship nationwide)
📍 Visit us in Laguna Beach:
Tea & Turmeric
1175 South Coast Hwy #104
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Phone: (949) 715-9600
Google Maps
📖 Read our blog: Natural Flavors & Microplastics
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @teanturmeric
⭐ Leave a Google Review: Tea & Turmeric Reviews
📰 Join our Newsletter: Sign Up Here
🎟 See Events & Tea Classes: Events & Classes Calendar
🧾 FDA: What are natural flavors?
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/overview-food-ingredients-additives-colors
🔬 McGill University: Microplastics in tea bags
https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/tea-bags-shed-billions-microplastics-cup-300919

Call to Action
Ready to taste the difference? Visit Tea & Turmeric, Laguna Beach’s specialty loose leaf tea and spice shop serving all of Orange County and Southern California. Or shop online for plastic free, organic blends shipped straight to your door.

Subscribe to The Tea on Wellness for new episodes every other Wednesday and join the growing OC community discovering the power of teas, spices, and herbal remedies for modern living.

Stay Connected

Come visit us in Laguna Beach or explore our teas and spices online at teaandturmeric.com
Follow our journey on Instagram: @teanturmeric
Have a question or a story to share? Email Vidya and the team at hello@teaandturmeric.com

If this episode spoke to you, subscribing and leaving a review helps more people in Orange County and beyond find us — thank you for supporting our little wellness community.

What’s really floating in your teacup these days? No, seriously, have you checked? With “natural flavors” that sound mysterious and the microplastics-in-tea-bags conversation heating up everywhere, it’s time to get real about what’s swirling around in your daily brew. Today, I’m breaking down the facts, busting myths, and sharing why so many folks in Orange County are ditching the tea bag for loose leaf tea, one clean, delicious cup at a time.

Hello and welcome back to The Tea on Wellness! I’m Vidya, and I’m so happy you’re joining me today. Whether you’re tuning in from Laguna Beach, somewhere else in Orange County, or listening from farther away, I hope you’ve got a cozy mug in hand. Today, we’re digging into what’s really in your tea… what those “natural flavors” actually mean, the truth about microplastics in tea bags, and why I’m so passionate about loose leaf tea. Plus, I’ll share a little bit about how we source our tea bags, because it matters to us and I know that matters to a lot of you.

Let’s get started.

Natural Flavors - What’s Really in Your Cup?

First, let’s talk about “natural flavors.” I get this question a lot in the shop: “What exactly are natural flavors? Are they safe? Are they bad for you? Are they vegan?” I love that you ask, because it means you care about what goes into your body.

When you see “natural flavor” on our Tea & Turmeric tea blends, here’s what it actually means:

It’s an FDA-regulated essential oil, essence, extract, or distillate sourced from natural plant or animal sources. For the tea world, it’s always a natural plant source like spices, fruits, veggies, botanicals, roots, or bark.

But, what does that actually mean?

For us, it’s pretty simple. No artificial junk. No weird chemicals. Just real extracts from fruits, spices, herbs, botanicals, and even veggies.

The extracts are prepared in a controlled environment and are federally regulated. That’s how we make sure every batch tastes the same and the source is always something you’d recognize from nature.

You might be wondering… so, why use them at all? Well, sometimes dried fruit or spices on their own don’t deliver that pop of flavor in every sip. I like to think of natural flavors as to tea what extracts are to baking. For example, in an almond cake, you use both almonds and almond extract because the almonds alone aren’t enough to flavor the cake.

Also, teas are steeped for a short time, a maximum of 5 minutes, which isn’t much time to extract flavors from dried ingredients. Natural extracts help us make sure your peach tea actually tastes like peach every single time. They’re not there to hide anything; just to help those natural flavors shine.

You might see natural flavors or extracts on our label. Sometimes creating that perfect taste means blending a few different extracts—like mixing paint colors to get the exact shade you want. It’s all about giving you that delicious, recognizable flavor… naturally.

If you’re wondering why we don’t list every single extract, here’s the honest answer: our tea partners are true artists, and their recipes are like a chef’s secret sauce. They keep those blends under wraps. But we’re extremely selective about who we work with and completely trust them. So you can trust that what’s in your cup comes from a natural source.

Microplastics in Tea Bags - What’s the Real Story?

Now, let’s get into a topic getting more attention lately: microplastics in tea bags. If you’ve heard about this, you might wonder if you need to worry.

Here’s the deal:

Many tea bags, especially the fancy, silky pyramid-shaped ones—aren’t made from paper. They’re made from plastics like nylon or polyethylene. Even paper tea bags are usually sealed with a thin plastic strip. When you pour hot water over these bags, tiny plastic particles can end up in your tea. We’re talking billions of microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics in a single cup.

The long-term health effects are still being studied, but it’s definitely something more people care about, especially here in Southern California where wellness and sustainability are important.

Why Loose Leaf Tea?

So, what’s the solution? For us at Tea & Turmeric, it’s simple: loose leaf tea.

  • We’re a loose leaf tea shop through and through. We love the ritual of brewing loose leaf tea, it’s part of the experience. We’ve got all the infusers, strainers, and cute cups to make it easy and fun.
  • But we get it… sometimes you just need the convenience of a tea bag.

When you brew loose leaf tea, you see exactly what you’re getting: whole leaves, real herbs, spices, dried fruit—nothing hidden. You’re not only avoiding microplastics, you’re also getting a better cup. The leaves have room to open up and release their full flavor, so your tea tastes richer and more complex. For tea lovers in Orange County, embracing loose leaf tea can truly elevate your tea game.

Brewing loose leaf tea can also be a little ritual. Measuring out your tea, watching the leaves unfurl, taking in the aroma, it’s a moment of mindfulness in your day. And if you’re worried about convenience, there are many easy-to-use infusers and strainers available. You don’t have to be a tea expert to enjoy great tea.

Our Tea Bags - A Trusted Source

That said, we know sometimes you want grab-and-go convenience. Maybe you’re at work, traveling, or need something quick. That’s why we offer our own empty tea bags made from unbleached paper. We get these tea bags made for us in India by a trusted supplier.

We know exactly where they come from and have built a relationship with our source over time. These bags are free from microplastics and bleach, so you can enjoy your tea with peace of mind, even on the go. This is part of our commitment to Tea & Turmeric quality and providing pure, natural ingredients.

Wrapping Up - Your Wellness, Your Choice

At the end of the day, my goal is to help you make choices that feel good for your body and your lifestyle. Whether you’re reaching for our Tea & Turmeric loose leaf blends or using one of our safe, simple tea bags, you should feel confident about what’s in your cup.

For those in Southern California looking to optimize wellness, knowing these details about your tea is a powerful step.

So, as you sip your next cup, I’d love for you to think about this:

  • Does knowing what goes into your tea change how you enjoy it?
  • Are there flavors you’re curious to try now that you know how we source and blend our teas?
  • Or perhaps new loose leaf varieties you’re eager to explore?

If you ever have questions about ingredients, brewing, or anything else, we’re always here to help.

Thank you so much for spending time with me on The Tea on Wellness. Until next time, steep well and live naturally.