Custom Printed Tea Pouches for Loose Leaf, Tea Bags and Matcha

What makes a tea pouch different from an ordinary stand up pouch?

Tea is dry, light and full of volatile oils. The pouch has to stop moisture getting in and keep the scent of bergamot or jasmine from escaping through the film.

That is why a tea pouch nearly always has a foil or metallised layer, even when the outside is matte and paper-like. A plain clear pouch lets scent and colour fade within weeks.

Shape-wise it is a standard stand up pouch with a bottom gusset. The pouches in the photos are matte laminates with a tear notch and no zipper, which is the simplest tea format. The stand up pouches range shows the other closures available.

Who buys printed tea pouches?

Tea pouches are not only for tea merchants. Anyone selling a dry infusion in small weights uses the same format.

Single-serve envelopes for one tea bag or one scoop of chai are a different pouch; those are made as printed sachets for single servings.

• Independent tea blenders selling online and through delis
• Tearooms and hotels retailing the blend they serve
• Matcha and chai brands sold through cafés and gyms
• Herbal and botanical infusion makers, from chamomile to nettle
• Wedding favour tea packs printed with the couple's names

How much leaf fits in a 100 g or 250 g tea pouch?

Leaf density varies more than most people expect. A rolled oolong is compact, while a whole-leaf white tea or a chamomile flower blend is fluffy and needs a taller pouch for the same weight.

The sizes below suit a typical black or green loose leaf. For light botanicals, go one size up and we confirm the fit on the proof.

Dimensions for every weight from 25 g to 1 kg are listed in the UK stand up pouch sizes guide.

Keeping flavour in and moisture out

Dry tea absorbs moisture from the air and the leaf goes dull. It also picks up smells, which is why loose tea stored next to coffee tastes of coffee.

Foil laminates give the strongest barrier against both. Metallised PET is a lighter option that still blocks light and most moisture, and it costs a little less per pouch.

Food-contact films are available on request, and a compostable paper-based laminate is an option for brands who want it, both confirmed on the quote. Our plain guide to barrier laminates explains what each layer does.

Tear notch, zipper or both?

A tear notch alone suits tea that is decanted into a caddy at home. The customer tears the top, pours the leaf out and the pouch is done.

A press-to-close zipper suits teas used a spoonful at a time, like matcha or a sleep blend. The zipper sits below the tear notch, so the first opening is still clean.

A slider zipper is rarely used on tea, because the pouch is too small for it to look right. Zippers add a little to the cost and about 15 mm to the pouch height. If most of your range is resealed, see the resealable zipper pouches for dry goods.

Windows for pyramid bags and whole flowers

Tea leaf fades in light, so a full window is rarely a good idea on loose leaf. A small frosted window works for pyramid bags, where the bag itself protects the leaf.

Shaped windows, a teapot or a leaf outline, can be cut on request and sit anywhere on the front panel. We show the size on the proof.

For blends with whole flowers, such as rose or cornflower, a window sells the product. The stand up pouches with a window page shows the shapes we cut.

Matte finishes and colour for tea branding

Matte film is the usual choice for tea because it photographs well and feels soft in the hand. Soft touch matte goes one step further and suits a higher price point.

Deep solid colours, like the orange and green pouches in the photos, need a white under-print so the colour stays bright over the foil. We handle that during layout. Gold or copper foil-effect lettering is an option on request and suits a black or deep green pouch.

Keep the brewing instructions large enough to read, and leave the lower back panel for ingredients and a best before box. The artwork guide for pouch printing lists bleed and seal margins.

How do you pack loose leaf tea by hand without crushing it?

Loose leaf breaks if it is forced through a narrow mouth. These steps keep the leaf whole and the seal area clean.

If you are unsure which pouch suits a new blend, our guide to choosing a pouch walks through the decision.

1. Weigh the leaf into a wide bowl first, not straight into the pouch.
2. Hold the pouch open with both thumbs and tip the leaf in from a scoop or paper funnel.
3. Tap the base on the bench so the leaf settles below the seal line.
4. Wipe the inside of the top seal with a dry cloth if any dust has landed there.
5. Seal on an impulse sealer, then tear-test one pouch from each batch.

What goes wrong on tea pouches?

Ordering a pouch for 100 g of black tea and then filling it with 100 g of fluffy herbal leaf is the usual mistake. The pouch will not close.

Skipping the white under-print on a dark foil pouch is another. Pastel colours go muddy without it.

Printing a window on a leaf that fades leads to a tired-looking shelf within a month. Choose a solid panel, or a dark pouch such as the matte black stand up pouch, and put a photo on the front instead.

Ordering tea pouches for your blends

Tell us the blend, the fill weight, the finish and whether you want a zipper. Prices run from £0.25 per unit and every order is quoted in writing with its own quantity.

A free design proof follows, showing the tear notch, seal lines and any window. After approval the pouches take 4–6 business days to make and travel free with tracking to UK addresses in 2–3 business days.

Misprints or damage reported within 10 days with photos are reprinted or refunded. Send the brief through the tea pouch quote form or by WhatsApp.