New Zealand Breakfast
Natural New Zealand mānuka blends perfectly with strong Assam tea to make a special blend ideal for the morning and late afternoon. Milk and sugar can be added to enhance rich malt and slightly pine flavours.
This t leaf T special blend is simply superb - a uniquely New Zealand twist on the classic breakfast tea that celebrates our native botanicals alongside traditional tea craftsmanship. Experience the robust strength of Assam black tea beautifully complemented by the subtle pine-like character of our finest native mānuka.
Why You'll Love It
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Robust & Full-Bodied: Ideal for morning and afternoon tea experiences
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Perfect with Milk & Sugar: Enhances the rich malt and subtle pine flavours beautifully
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Uniquely New Zealand: A special blend that showcases our native botanicals
Origins & Character
Mānuka Excellence: Featuring one of our finest native infusions, mānuka leaves have been traditionally used for centuries. The honey produced from mānuka is world-renowned for its medicinal properties, and the leaves offer their own unique benefits.
Traditional Wisdom: The leaves of the mānuka tree have traditionally been used for medicinal purposes and were also used to brew a tea-like drink. When infused, mānuka leaf delivers a subtle pine-like flavour and aroma that perfectly complements the robust Assam base.
Health & Wellness: Mānuka is rich in antioxidants and is believed to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immune-boosting effects, supporting overall health and wellness. Research suggests mānuka tea may be particularly beneficial for digestive health, helping to reduce inflammation and promote healthy gut bacteria.
Functional & Wellness Benefits
Assam Foundation: Built on a strong black Assam tea base that delivers the rich, malty flavour essential for a proper breakfast tea - robust enough to start your day right.
Mānuka Magic: The addition of natural New Zealand mānuka creates a subtle pine flavour that adds complexity and a unique character to every cup.
Morning & Afternoon Perfect: Ideal for morning wake-up calls and late afternoon pick-me-ups. The calming effect of mānuka makes it perfect for promoting relaxation throughout your day.
Enhanced Experience: Add a touch of milk and sugar to bring out the rich, malt flavour while the subtle pine notes create a perfectly balanced, uniquely New Zealand tea experience.
New Zealand Breakfast - where traditional Assam tea strength meets native mānuka in every comforting cup.
Tea Bag Packaging Material
Tea bags are commonly made from PLA mesh, paper or nylon. t leaf T uses pyramid tea bags made from plant-based PLA, rather than paper or nylon. Here is how the materials differ and what that means for composting.
PLA Pyramid Tea Bags Used by t leaf T
PLA, or polylactic acid, is a plant-based material that can be made from crops such as corn or sugar cane. Our NeoSoilon® pyramid tea bags are made from sugar-cane-derived PLA. PLA tea bags have been available since the mid-2000s and are not made from petroleum-based plastic.
NeoSoilon® is a woven mesh made by Nasa Corporation from 100% PLA filaments. The manufacturer states that NeoSoilon® is certified by the Non-GMO Project. Our pyramid tea bags, including the tag and string, contain no nylon or polypropylene.
PLA is spun into thread and woven to make the clear mesh. It behaves like a plastic when heated, which allows the seams to be sealed using ultrasonic vibrations. This joins the seams without the need for petrochemical-based sealing plastics. PLA melts at around 170°C, well above the temperature of boiling water.
Commercial composting
Our NeoSoilon® pyramid tea bags are intended for industrial or commercial composting. The material meets the European standard EN 13432, ISO 17088 and the American standard ASTM D6400. Under industrial composting conditions at around 58°C, the manufacturer states that 90% of the material’s weight can biodegrade within 180 days.
In soil or water, the manufacturer estimates that the mesh takes around three years to break down. It is not home compostable. Although materials designed for home composting are available, the option we have assessed breaks down within weeks, which is not practical for a product that needs a long shelf life, such as tea. Please check whether a suitable commercial composting facility is available in your area.
Read more from Nasa Corporation about NeoSoilon®.
Old-Style Paper Tea Bags
Paper tea bags have been used for almost 100 years. The paper fibres do not naturally adhere to each other, so the bags need to be heat-sealed. Most paper tea bag materials use a small amount of petro-based sealing plastic to make this possible.
As a result, a paper tea bag may be about 98% paper fibre and around 2% petro-based plastic. The paper fibre can break down in home composting, but the plastic portion is not compostable or biodegradable. This is not an option we use at t leaf T.
Nylon Pyramid Tea Bags
Nylon pyramid tea bags have been available since around 1996, before PLA tea bag technology existed. Nylon is a petroleum-based plastic. It is not compostable or biodegradable and can persist in the environment for hundreds of years.
Nylon costs substantially less than PLA, which can make it an attractive option for producers focused on cost. We do not use nylon tea bags at t leaf T.
Our View
No tea bag material is perfect. For the convenience of tea bags, we believe our plant-based PLA is the most sustainable option currently available to us. For an option without a single-use tea bag, every tea we sell is also available as loose leaf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are t leaf T pyramid tea bags home compostable?
No. Our NeoSoilon® PLA pyramid tea bags are intended for industrial or commercial composting, not home composting. Check whether a suitable commercial composting facility is available in your area.
What are t leaf T pyramid tea bags made from?
They are made from NeoSoilon®, a woven mesh produced by Nasa Corporation from 100% sugar-cane-derived PLA filaments. The tea bags, including the tag and string, contain no nylon or polypropylene.
