Bigelow Shrinking Tea Bags

That's nice.

You opened a box of 20 teabags in 5 envelopes and are giving us eight (including the 3x25g) weights? This does not compute. Do you mean 8 boxes are in a gift set and each box has 20 bags for a total of...um...160 bags per set? If so, the range of weights is normal because you're talking about an assortment.

This strikes me as odd because I've only known Bigelow to pack each teabag in it's own foil envelope.

Skimpy when you looked at them? So? Not all of my teabags from various companies swell up, either.

Now, you're talking. Which did you try? It might be characteristic of that particular blend especially if you didn't brew it long enough in water that was hot enough.

Whatever.

Yes, and I've had several boxes by Bigelow that say 1 bag will make 2 cups.

Lipton?

Be careful of comparing apples to oranges. The real question is are you comparing teas that are alike? And, really, who cares how much a box of 20 bags weighs as long as the price is right for the flavor delivered? If you bought the Teas For All Seasons assortment that includes flavored tea, blends, and herbals, they really mustn't be compared to regular Lipton because they're all different and none are as robust which may also account for tasting "wimpy" as you mentioned above.

What's your source? Most that I've seen recommend 2 or 2.25 grams of LOOSE TEA (herbals aren't real tea) as in whole or broken leaves. The tea in bags is fannings or dust which typically release flavor quicker so less is required.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. Check the brewing instructions to make sure you got it right and enjoy the variety of not-regular-Lipton that you have at hand. If you want, look for similar teas by Lipton to compare FLAVORS (not weights since we're talking bags and not loose teas).

Back when I was drinking tea from bags, I had some sort of Bigelow or some other type of bagged tea, and after one of my many break ups with my girlfriend I packed all my crap and put it in storage. It stayed there for nearly a year, and in the meantime I got some more of the same tea. Then I got the stuff out of storage and put the old tea in the pantry with the new. I quickly realized that the new stuff had substantially less tea in each bag than the old stuff. Each was individually wrapped and gave a weight on it. The old ones were listed at 1.1 oz each and the new ones 1.0.

So I believe it!

I have heard (but have not confirmed this myself) that British tea bags and some Canadian ones have a little more tea in them becuase the taste for a stronger cuppa is more popular there. I wish I had a sensitive gram scale, I'd do some experiments, though that would entail buying a box of Lipton and other assorted tea bags...

Oh, speaking of LIpton...regardless of what you think of their teas, the history of the company and the founder is fascinating. I read about it in a book called The Tea Book (no author...it was one of those full of pictures) and it was very interesting. I guess the original founder was quite the marketing genius, but it seems that the tea they sold was better then...

(Trying to remember...seems to me one of the incidents where they showed his marketing genius was thus: He was on a ship and for some reason they had to throw the entire cargo of tea chests overboard (or cargo of some sort of luggage, can't remember exactly) ..weight problem or something...anyway, he made sure Drink Lipton Tea was stamped on the side of each so that wherever they landed it would bring his company name. I never would've thought of that...)

Excuse me, but I'm reasonably confident that it was another co. and/or you might need a memory check as I've never known Bigelow to put the weight on the individual packets and even if they did, 1.1 oz or 1.0 oz is a heck of a lot of tea for a teabag intended to brew 1 or 2 cups.

If, OTOH, the total content weight of the box dropped .1 oz, that doesn't bother me since they may have found other sources that provided the same flavor at a lower weight.

I can definitely relate to that, it's why I've quit buying teapots etc. for the most part. I have all I need (except future gungfu yixings and those will come gradually) so why get another, when that moola can go for tea. :) I'm not in it for collecting teapots, lol.

Melinda

well it might not have been bigelow, and it might not have been 1.1 to 1.0, but the weight had dropped 0.1 whatever the numbers were.

And let's be real. You seem to have this strange need to look past the fact practically every product you buy is made cheaper or contains less of what it did in years past. Tea is no exception.

But, have you noticed any change in flavor? To me, that's what it's all about, not looks or weight or stuff like that and apples (Bigelow's flavored, blends, & herbals) can't be compared to oranges (Lipton's regular tea) as the OP appeared to be doing. It just ain't right.

I buy pots for use not decoration. I have various sizes and materials depending on serving requirements. I do buy pairs of matching single serving pots for the occasional guest. I just got a pair of 800ml tea presses looped by a green dragon which looks like jade but heavy plastic for $5 each. I'm on a mission from god to modify every french press I see.

Jim

Mel> I can definitely relate to that, it's why I've quit buying teapots etc. for