The creation of the tea bag was a result of an unexpected twist in tea history. In 1908, a tea merchant named Thomas Sullivan, based in New York, was looking for a more economical way to send out tea samples to his customers. Instead of using the traditional, bulky tins, Sullivan opted to pack his tea into small silk bags. The intention was that the recipient would open the bag and use the loose leaves in a teapot as usual.

However, some of Sullivan's customers misunderstood and plopped the entire silk bag into hot water. They found it convenient, and rather than correcting the mistake, they requested more of these pre-filled bags. Sullivan quickly caught on to this newfound demand and began producing them intentionally, albeit with more suitable materials over time. What started as a simple cost-saving measure ended up revolutionizing how people brewed their tea.