A study by Northwestern University has found that brewing tea using loose leaves or tea bags can effectively remove heavy metals like lead and cadmium from water. The research was published in the journal ACS Food & Science Technology on February 24, 2025.
The researchers analyzed the effects of common tea leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant—such as black, green, oolong, and white teas—as well as herbal teas like chamomile and rooibos. They also compared the effectiveness of brewing with loose tea leaves versus using tea bags.
The results showed that when tea is brewed, heavy metals like lead and cadmium naturally bind to the tea, effectively removing them from the water. Among the different materials tested, tea bags made from cellulose were the most effective, while cotton and nylon tea bags showed little to no effect.
Also, the longer the tea was brewed, the more heavy metals were removed. For instance, soaking a tea bag for three to five minutes was estimated to remove approximately 15% of the lead.
The study suggests that the ability of tea to remove heavy metals could be one reason why regular tea drinkers are at a lower risk of heart disease and stroke.
Viewer Comments:
I might switch to drinking tea instead of coffee.
Still, I’ll probably end up drinking alcohol anyway.
Tea without caffeine is the best.
Source:https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c01030
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/02/brewing-tea-removes-lead-from-water/
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