The European Classic. One bag. Done right.
We run a single tea bag format: the HST PT-2.33 double-chamber paper tea bag. The European classic shape: paper filter, string, paper tag, two chambers. We chose it because 36 years of supplying herbs to German, Austrian, and Swiss brands taught us this is the format their customers expect on the shelf.
- PT-2.33HST Maschinenbau
- 150-160bags / minute
- 5M / monthsingle shift
- Germany100% engineering
- Compostablefilter paper
Everything that goes into one bag.
The whole spec lives in code at content/data/bag.ts - one source of truth that every page on this site reads from. Update once, propagate everywhere.
HST PT-2.33 spec
- Model
- HST PT-2.33
- Platform
- PT-33
- Bag type
- double-chamber paper tea bag
- Size A
- 64 x 44 mm - herbal + fruit infusions
- Size B
- 60 x 40 mm - black + green tea
- Filter paper
- Non-heat-sealable filter paper. Fully compostable.
- String + tag
- printable paper tag, CMYK + spot color, both sides
- Envelope films
- OPP, cellophane, PLA, paper compounds
- Envelope min thickness
- 35 micrometers
- Throughput
- 150-160 bags / min · 5M bags / month single shift
- Origin
- 100% German engineering (HST Maschinenbau)
Double-chamber, compostable filter, printable paper tag.
Double-chamber
The bag folds into two chambers around a central seam. Doubles the surface area exposed to hot water vs single-chamber. 30% better aroma retention vs single-chamber at equivalent weight.
Non-heat-sealable filter paper
Deliberately the older paper standard - no heat-seal adhesive layer. Filter paper itself is compostable.
String + paper tag
Every bag carries a string ending in a printable paper tag. CMYK + spot color, both sides - brand name, brew instructions, batch code.
Two pouch sizes, one line
60×40mm or 64×44mm switchable between batches on a single shift. No machine swap.
Same line, two formats. Switchable in a single shift.
Size A (64×44) is the larger bag - more chamber for whole-leaf herbs, dried fruit pieces, hibiscus petals, rosehip granules. Size B (60×40) is tighter weave for fine-cut black and green tea, maximizing infusion across the leaf surface without leaf escape.
64 x 44 mm
Best forherbal + fruit infusions
Contents weight1.5–2.5 g per bag
60 x 40 mm
Best forblack + green tea
Contents weight1.5–2.5 g per bag
The outer wrapper. Your choice, our recommendation.
The bag itself is the infuser. The envelope is the outer wrapper that seals the bag for shelf life. Minimum thickness 35 micrometers across all options - below this, aroma retention drops below acceptable shelf life.
| Envelope film | Aroma protection | Compostability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPP (oriented polypropylene) | Strong | Not compostable | Most common in B2B retail. Glossy or matte finish. |
| Cellophane | Good | Industrial-compostable | Premium feel. Sustainable claim available. |
| PLA (polylactic acid) | Good | Fully compostable | Bioplastic. Higher cost. Best sustainability story. |
| Paper compounds | Fair | Mixed (depends on inner layer) | Premium look, paper-feel shelf presence. Inner foil for high-aroma teas. |
5M bags / month single shift. 10M double.
150-160
bags / min
9,600
bags / hour
76,800
bags / 8h shift
5M
bags / month, 1 shift
For a 1g bag, 1 million bags is 1 tonne of tea. For a 2g bag, 1 million bags is 2 tonnes. We hold the line at one machine through 2026 deliberately. The decision to add a second machine is a year-3 conversation, contingent on consistent ~50% line utilization and proven buyer demand for an additional format.
HST Maschinenbau, Germany. PT-33 platform, refined for decades.
We chose the HST PT-2.33 over Chinese and Indian alternatives for three reasons:
- TolerancesGerman engineering holds bag-weight tolerance tighter than the Asian alternatives - matters when a retailer audits your weight-per-bag claim.
- Parts availability in EuropeMaintenance is a phone call and an air-freight away. Not a six-week shipment from Shanghai.
- Service networkHST has a service network across the EU. On-site diagnostic and repair within 72 hours.
Every tea we offer ships in this same bag.
| Tea type | Recommended size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Black tea | Size B (60 × 40) | Fine cut, dense |
| Green tea | Size B (60 × 40) | Fine cut |
| Herbal infusions (camomile, sage, linden, peppermint) | Size A (64 × 44) | Whole-leaf or coarse cut |
| Fruit infusions (hibiscus, rosehip, apple, citrus peel) | Size A (64 × 44) | Larger granular content |
| Wellness blends (functional botanicals) | A or B depending on cut | Discussed per recipe |
| Single-origin specialty | A or B depending on cut | Discussed per recipe |
| Native Balkan herbs (mountain tea, sage, linden, thyme) | Size A (64 × 44) | Whole-leaf, our own cultivation |
| Custom blends | A or B depending on cut | Recipe development phase decides |
The most-asked B2B question, answered directly.
Why not pyramid sachets?
Pyramid sachets require a heat-sealable filter material (typically PET or nylon). The "premium pyramid" market has been moving away from PET for sustainability reasons. PLA pyramids exist but they cost 3-4x a paper bag and the consumer cannot tell the difference once steeped. We chose to invest in mastering one bag, not in a second machine.
Why not single-chamber?
Single-chamber bags have 30% less infusion surface area. For B2B private-label buyers selling premium, the double-chamber is the right call. For private-label buyers selling commodity tea, the price difference does not justify the machine swap.
Why not loose-leaf or tin packaging?
We are a tea bag co-packer. Loose-leaf is a different product, a different SKU, a different shelf placement. We do not pretend to do it.
Why not run 5 formats badly?
Asian co-packers will quote you 8 bag formats and deliver 5 of them poorly. We chose to master one format on one well-supported European machine, with one MOQ table, one timeline, one quality control protocol. Buyers tell us they would rather have one bag done right than five done approximately.
Is there a staple in the bag?
No - and worth saying directly because the word "staple" carries some baggage. The bag itself is all paper: filter, chambers, tea. There is one staple on the whole product, and it does one job - hold the paper tag to the string, outside the bag. That is the standard European tag fastener and what your customer in Berlin, Vienna, or Skopje will recognize as a proper tea bag. The US-style "stapled-bag-chamber" format is a different machine entirely. We do not run it.
Where to go next
Co-Packing
You have the tea. We bag it on the PT-2.33.
OpenServiceFull Production
You have an idea. We build the tea + the bag.
OpenWhat goes insideTea Range
Black, green, herbal, fruit, wellness, native Balkan.
OpenWhat it is made ofMaterials
Filter paper, mesh, envelope films, FSC paper.
OpenCertificationHST PT-2.33 machine credentials
Deeper machine spec, full equipment provenance.
OpenTrustCertifications
ISO 22000, HACCP, EU food safety.
OpenWant this bag with your brand on it?
Phone, WhatsApp, or send a message. We answer Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00 CET. Sample envelope and full spec sheet on request.
Orbook a free 30-min consultation· Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00 CET
Family since
36 yrs Balkan herb supply chain
Reply window
Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00 CET
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