I’m addicted to tea leaves and tea bags: ‘I love the taste and eat them daily’

A woman has opened up about her strange addiction – eating tea leaves and tea bags.

Lyubov Siryk, 20, says she consumes tea leaves every single day and often munches on entire tea bags. 

Lyubov first started nibbling on mint leaves as a child after her grandmother encouraged her to try them.

But her innocent snack soon escalated into a full-blown obsession.

She eats tea leaves up to twice a day and even consumes paper tea bags two or three times a week. 

Lyubov says she finds the taste “delicious” and craves them after finishing her drink.

Lyubov, a marketing brand manager from Limassol, Cyprus, said: “I started when I was 14 after my grandmother suggested eating mint leaves. 

“I loved the taste and one day I just thought — what if I try eating regular tea leaves?

“I tried them and really liked them. 

“Then it slowly became a habit. 

“Now, I drink about three to four cups of tea a day and usually eat the leaves from at least two.”

Lyubov says her favorite teas are English Breakfast, Chinese Pu’er tea and Thai black tea. 

She even eats other people’s used tea bags if they offer them to her.

Lyubov said: “I brew the tea for three to five minutes, drink it and then eat the leaves. 

“It’s a taste of freshness I can’t get enough of.

“My close friends know I do it. 

“Sometimes when they finish their tea, they hand me their tea bag because they know I’ll eat it.”

Lyubov admits she’s aware of potential health risks, like microplastics in some tea bags, but insists she opts for organic ones made of paper to satisfy her cravings.

She said: “I try to avoid the ones with plastic or nylon. 

“However some paper tea bags have fabric so it’s a bit difficult to chew but if I really crave it, I still eat them.”

Lyubov says she once tried to quit but the cravings were too strong.

She said: “I stopped for a few weeks but it was incredibly difficult. 

“I’d drink tea and then just crave the leaves so badly.

“I googled everything about it and decided it’s not that harmful, especially compared to things like smoking or drinking alcohol. 

“I’d still like to stop eating the tea bags eventually but I don’t think I’ll ever give up tea leaves.

“I do regular checkups and I’m healthy.

“I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, and I eat a balanced diet.

 “I just have this one strange habit.”