Packaging for tea

After the blending, the tea is sent to the packaging machines, where it is packaged either as individual tea bags or in bulk packages. The tea powder may be packaged in canister or jars.

Tea is hygroscopic and its ability to remain in good condition is highly dependent on its moisture content.

Therefore the main technical requirement for packaging of tea at any stage is the provision of an adequate moisture barrier.

For bulk tea, the traditional foil-lined plywood tea chest remains a common form of packaging for export tea.  The aluminium foil is used as a moisture barrier. Multiwall paper sacks laminated with foil and polyethylene are becoming more common, providing as superior moisture barrier and any physical damage to the tea can be minimized by palletizing within the factory and shipping on containers.

Loose tea is packed in a multitude of different shapes sizes and types of materials throughout the world. The most common being a paperboard carton with either an aluminium foil liner or an overwrap of PP or RCF.

The best for loose tea is probably a metal box with snap-lid.

Tea bags have now become the most popular form of retail packaging, and considerable development has gone into improving the tissues paper used for this type of packaged, with porous wet-strength paper being required.
Packaging for tea

Physical protection of food packaging

One of the main objective of the packaging of food is to protect it against spoilage or deterioration due to physical damage, among other things, shock, vibration, compression, temperature , etc.

During product life, particularly in storage, distribution and consumer handling, products are subjected to vibration on vehicles, compressive loads during stacking in warehouses and sudden jolts and knocks.

Physical damage can be caused by compression during storage and transport. Special care should be exercise in handling cases containing packs of frozen products.

The packaging protects food from mechanical damage during supply and distribution. Physical barriers resist impact, abrasion and crushing damage, so they can be used as shipping containers and as packaging for delicate foods.

The carton itself gives physical protection and protection against moisture and oxygen transfer is provided by a barrier overwrap or a sealed inner pouch or liner.

For fragile products that are susceptible to crushing, such as breakfast cereals and biscuits the outer carton provides protection from physical damage and from potential tampering.

Physical protection of food packaging