You may remember the first Teastick we reviewed in 2005. You know, if you're that cool and read blogs back then. Well, three years is a long time in Teastick development. Have a look at what's new - at right, the Teastick Gems.Do they remind anyone else of Barbie shoes? Seriously, that's all I can think of when I look at them. But they're not Barbie shoes, they're not; they make tea.
"Teastick Gems are now made with Eastman Tritan™, a revolutionary new material that is FDA-approved, taste-free and with absolutely no Bisphenol-A!"
I have no idea what Bisphenol-A is, but I feel sort of excited that these don't contain it. I looked up what else is made with Eastman Tritan™ but a Google image search brought me a lumber rack, a synthesizer, and an impressive deer. So, let's assume this is a very new type of plastic.
In any case, Teasticks can go in the dishwasher and are obviously a very handy tea-making shape. The Teastick Gems' semi-clear design allow you to watch your tea pearls unfold and make a perfect 10-14 oz. cup of tea. Perfect for a tea lover's holiday stocking!

Live from Google I/O's 2013 opening keynote!
Chili's Waitress Fired Over Facebook Post Insulting 'Stupid Cops'
Billboard Music Awards: Worst Dressed (or Most Daring?) From Past Red Carpets
HSBC Plans 14,000 More Job Cuts
Save on Spring Cleaning With a New Vacuum -- Savings Experiment
Forbidden America: Cold War-Era Map Shows No-Go Zones For Soviet Tourists
BBC Host Paula White Pulled Off Air After Sounding Drunk
Man Takes Dump In Background Of Instructional Workout Video
Tenants: Stench of Death Makes St. Louis Complex 'Unlivable'
Famous Roadside Attractions














11-15-2008 @1:32PM Gaylon White said... Eastman Tritan copolyester also is used in the new KOR ONE Hydration Vessel from KOR Water -- www.korwater.com-- and the CamelBak and Nalgene line of sports bottles. The Eastman Innovation Lab website -- www.EastmanInnovationLab.com -- is a good source for information on Tritan.
Reply
11-14-2008 @5:50PM Tina said... Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical compound that's been used in the production of polycarbonate plastics, such as Nalgene or baby bottles. It's been controversial lately because it mimics hormones like estrogen and has been shown to cause cancer in mice. From my understanding, the BPA can leach into liquids which your body then absorbs though there. Since the amount of BPA that can come out of plastic is enhanced from increased temperatures, these Teasticks can keep your drink BPA-free!
From what I've heard, the use of Bisphenol-A has been banned in Canada. I think Nalgene has reformulated the way they make their plastic bottles and there are reportedly BPA-free.
(I haven't done any research on this but students at the college I teach at have been looking into how easily BPA can be extracted from the bottles into your typical drinking liquids.)
Reply
11-14-2008 @6:07PM Carly said... Bisphenol-A is better known as BPA, and is the chemical that has been found in many plastic water bottles (like nalgenes.) There is some evidence that it may cause birth defects and other bad things when ingested in large quantities. That's sort of the readers digest explanation...
Reply