Two Antique Tao Tea Balls Tins

These antique tins originally held 20 individual orange pekoe and pekoe blend tea balls, each making a pot of tea. It was a product of the Tao Tea Company of New York City. According to Connecticutmills.org, Tao Tea Co. of NYC opened a plant in Bethel, CT in 1922. It described the Tao Tea product as being ball-shaped bags made from sterilized muslin. The firm’s advertising noted that the, ‘The Tea Ball Is Your Safeguard…’ that it was, ‘The modern, safe way of packing tea…’ due to the fact that “Human hands do not touch them during the entire process.’ The company also highlighted its economical, yet high-quality product made from select orange pekoe leaves. The Tao Tea Company vacated its Bethel plant during the late 1930s.