As teabag paper grows in popularity for printmaking and crafts, more suppliers are entering the market. Unfortunately, not all materials being sold as “teabag paper” are genuine teabag paper.
In many cases, buyers are actually receiving wet strength tissue or other similar papers - very different products with different performance characteristics.
So how do you know whether what you have received is the real thing or an imposter?
Here’s what you need to know before you place your next order.
Why This Confusion Is Happening
Teabag paper has become increasingly desirable for; gelli printing, intaglio and chine-collé, lino printing, eco printing, cyanotype and other crafts.
Because it is thin, porous, and strong when wet, some suppliers market wet strength tissue as a substitute — often without clearly explaining the difference.
At first glance, the two materials can look similar:
- Both are lightweight
- Both are off-white
- Both feel soft and fibrous
- Both claim “wet strength”
But performance and handling is where the differences become obvious.
What Is True Teabag Paper?
Authentic teabag paper is a specialty paper engineered specifically for tea filtration and food-safe applications.
It is typically made from:
- Abaca fiber (a long, strong banana plant fibre)
- Wood pulp
It is manufactured to meet strict standards for:
- Porosity and infusion flow
- Wet tensile strength
- Food safety compliance
Although most makers and artists are not too worried about the food safety compliance the other properties are great when printing or working with the paper when damp. True teabag paper is not simply “strong tissue.” It is a highly engineered filtration material.
What Is Wet Strength Tissue?
Wet strength tissue is a lightweight paper treated with chemical resins to prevent it from disintegrating when wet.
It is commonly used for:
- Craft projects
- Paper towels
- Medical wipes
- Cleaning applications
- Floral wrap
It is strengthened chemically rather than structurally through it’s fibres.
It often has a shiny side and a duller side unlike teabag paper. Who ever heard of a shiny teabag!
What does this mean in terms of printability?
Teabag paper is porous which means that when it is laid on a wet surface such as an acrylic covered Gelli plate it absorbs the moisture and lays perfectly flat without creating wrinkles. Surface treated light weight papers are less absorbent and more prone to wrinkling. In cyanotype or eco printing where the final stage is rinsing the paper off teabag paper really comes into it’s own as it can withstand a thorough rinse and be wrung out without tearing.
Paper choice can strongly effect the final use of a print. Teabag paper is both thin enough that it can create fabulous transparent papers for creating depth in collage work but strong enough to withstand covering a sketchbook for example.
Key Differences Buyers Should Look For in Papers
1. Fibre Composition
Teabag paper:
- Contains long abaca fibres
- Has visible fibrous structure
- Often slightly translucent
Wet strength tissue:
- Mostly wood pulp
- Strength comes from chemical binders
- Often more opaque and uniform
If a supplier cannot clearly state the fibre composition, it is a red flag. Many don’t broadcast the type of fibres used to create the papers they are selling but it can usually be found on the listing with a bit of hunting.
2. Strength Profile
Teabag paper is engineered for wet tensile strength in both machine and cross directions.
Wet strength tissue often feels strong when damp but can stretch or distort under pressure (great when making sculptures but less so when printing). It may tear unexpectedly in printmaking processes and certainly needs much more careful handling in wet projects for example when creating cyanotypes.
3. Price That Seems “Too Good”
True teabag base paper is a specialty engineered product. If the price is dramatically lower than expected, it may not be authentic.
While cost savings are attractive, using the wrong material can result in:
- Failed prints
- Poor paint or ink performance
- Tearing during printing
- Inconsistent product quality
- Customer dissatisfaction
I’m also a great believer in you receiving exactly what you think you have bought. How can you make an informed decision on if you like using teabag paper in your work if you haven’t actually bought real teabag paper?
Why This Matters for Printmakers and Creatives
For artists using it for various print techniques such as Gelli printing, intaglio, chine-collé and lino printing true teabag paper provides:
- Deep plate impression
- Excellent ink pickup
- Layering translucency
- Structural stability
If you are building a body of work or selling finished prints, material consistency is crucial.
Questions to Ask Your Supplier
Before purchasing, ask:
- What is the exact fibre composition?
- Does it contain abaca?
- What is the GSM (grams per square meter)?
A reputable supplier should be able to answer these clearly and confidently. If responses are vague - proceed cautiously.
How to Test Material Yourself
If you are unsure if what you have bought is teabag paper, conduct simple tests:
· Scrunch test: Does it crackle when scrunched? Teabag paper makes a soft noise when scrunched whereas wet strength tissue is noisy.
Soak test: Does it maintain structural integrity after full saturation? Teabag paper can be run under a tap and wrung out like a cloth without tearing whereas wet strength tissue will begin to tear.
Stretch test: Does it distort easily when wet? Teabag paper is cross woven and won’t have any give or stretch.
Light test: Hold it to the light - true teabag paper often shows a distinctive fiber web structure.
Burnish test: Does it pill or shed fibers? Teabag paper won’t pill when rubbed when wet.
These practical checks can quickly reveal whether you are working with teabag paper or treated tissue or even a rice or bamboo paper.
Final Thoughts: Buy Informed, Print Confidently
Teabag paper is a remarkable material - but only when it is genuine. That’s not to say that some of these other papers don’t have a role to play in creative projects, some are lovely and light weight and very smooth but in previous tests I have shown many of these to be acidic meaning many would discolour with UV light over time. Teabag paper is archival due to the very low acidity.
As demand grows, marketing language can blur distinctions between teabag paper and wet strength tissues. For buyers, especially artists, this difference can significantly impact how well a print transfers to the paper etc and what the final applications of that print can be used for.
Before purchasing, verify the source, ask technical questions, and test small batches. A little due diligence ensures you get the true benefits of authentic teabag paper - not an imitation that only looks the part.
For my Teabag Paper Taster Pack containing 3 different teabag papers click here.