Tea pouch
Matte laminate, zipper200 minimum · 10 to 12 business daysA tea pouch is a stand up or flat barrier bag with a resealable zipper, sized for loose leaf tea by weight rather than volume. We produce them, printed digitally, from 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof, on a matte food-contact laminate that keeps moisture and light off the leaf. The 2 ounce and 4 ounce sizes cover most loose leaf ranges.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a tea pouch when you sell loose leaf, herbal blends or pyramid sachets by weight and want the bag to stand on a shelf or a cafe counter. Tea is light for its volume, so the pouch is sized on bulk, not weight; 2 ounces of a fluffy white tea needs the bag a dense black tea would use for 4. Matte film with a small window suits most ranges. Kraft laminate suits herbal and wellness blends.
Choose a tea carton with an inner bag when the shelf calls for a rigid box and a printed lid. Choose a tea tin style tube when the brand wants a reusable container the buyer keeps on the counter, since a pouch is emptied and thrown away.
Specifications
| Film | Matte PET/PE, kraft/PE, or metallized PET/PE for delicate greens |
|---|---|
| Digital CMYK, white underprint on kraft or clear, matte varnish | |
| Finish | Matte standard, soft-touch on request |
| Closure | Press-to-close zipper, tear notch, hang hole optional |
| Insert | None |
| Window | Optional clear window, 1.5 to 3 in, on the front or back |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 12 business days after proof |
| Ships | Flat, in cartons of 200 |
| Sizes we run | 3.5 x 5.5 x 2 in (1 oz) 4 x 6.5 x 2.5 in (2 oz) 5 x 8 x 3 in (4 oz) 6 x 9.5 x 3.5 in (8 oz) any size from 3 x 5 x 2 to 8 x 12 x 4 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
How do I size a pouch for tea?
By volume, not weight. Tea density ranges from about 0.09 ounces per cubic inch for a fluffy white tea to 0.29 for a rolled oolong. A 4 by 6.5 by 2.5 inch pouch holds around 2 ounces of most black teas and only 1 ounce of a large-leaf white. Send us about 2 ounces of the blend and we test fill.
Does tea need a foil barrier?
Usually not. Tea is dry and does not off-gas, so a standard PET/PE or kraft/PE laminate keeps it fresh for 12 months as long as the zipper is closed. Matcha and delicate green teas are the exception; they oxidize and lose color, so we run those on a metallized film with no window.
Can I have a window?
Yes, on any film except metallized. A 1.5 to 3 inch window on the front shows the leaf, which sells well for whole leaf and flower blends. For teas that fade in light, put the window on the back where it faces the shelf, or leave it off.
Are the films food safe?
Yes. Every laminate we run for tea is food-contact grade and the film documentation is supplied with the quote. The inside sealant layer is a plain PE that carries no odor of its own, which matters more for tea than for most products.
Can I run several blends on one order?
Yes. Each blend is its own print item with its own proof, and each runs from 200 units. Keep the size and the film the same across the blends and the whole order runs together and ships in one shipment. A different size or film is a separate item with its own dieline.
How is the tea pouch different from the tea tin style tube?
The pouch is the everyday pack: a stand up or flat barrier bag with a resealable zipper, sized by weight for loose leaf, from 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. The tea tin style tube is a spiral-wound paper canister with a tinplate bottom and metal slip lid, a foil or PE liner inside, that stays on the counter after the tea is gone, from 200 units in 10 to 14 business days. Refills and online orders suit the pouch; gift tins and the hero blend suit the tube.
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Ready to price your tea pouch?
Send the size and quantity for a quote and a dieline, usually within one business day. Your digital proof follows, usually within one business day of your artwork. Design help and the Swatch Book of materials are free.