For many Indians, the day doesn't begin without a cup of tea. But when it comes to choosing between loose tea leaves and tea bags, experts strongly recommend avoiding tea bags. Most commercial tea bags contain epichlorohydrin, a carcinogenic chemical that gets released when dipped in hot water. Some tea bags are also made of nylon or plastic, which can leach harmful substances into your tea.

Moreover, tea bags are usually filled with tea dust and fannings, which are the leftover fragments from the tea processing industry. These lack both flavor and nutrients. In contrast, loose tea leaves are richer in antioxidants, retain more nutrients, and come in a wide range of varieties like black, white, oolong, and green tea.

Loose leaves are also less processed and offer greater health benefits like improved digestion, weight loss support, and anti-aging properties. So, for a truly healthy brew, ditch the tea bags and go for fresh loose leaves.