#31: Tea Bags
Thomas Sullivan, an American importer of tea and coffee, accidentally invented tea bags. While attempting to share new tea samples with his clients, Sullivan opted for small silk bags as packaging. Unbeknownst to him, customers would begin the tradition of brewing tea directly within these silk containers, laying the foundation for a revolution in tea consumption.
Sullivan’s innovative silk bags were permeable, allowing the tea’s essence to mingle with hot water effortlessly. Recognizing the potential, Sullivan quickly commercialized his accidental invention, spreading the convenience of bagged tea globally. Not long after, the visionary Thomas Lipton saw the groundbreaking potential in Sullivan’s creation, making Lipton the pioneer company to mass-produce and distribute tea bags, forever altering how the world savors its tea.