PATENT OF PRE-GUMMED TEA BAG (1979): Patent Art Print

Text on the tag:

Tea was popular in the seventeenth century, however, the brewing required pots and tea strainers. Small bags were created by Tom Sullivan, a tea merchant. In the 1900s, he packaged small samples for prospective clients who used the bag as a strainer. This accidental creation became the introduction of the tea bag we use today.