Solution to the teabag dilemma...

The intelligent (and generally legendary) Luke Briner has solved the problem! I don't have a photo of him to credit him in this matter but here is the response to the tea bag inflation issue...

When the boiling water hits the tea leaves, it is soaked up inside the bag, still releasing large quantities of steam. Of course this does eventually leave through the holes but the volume generated is so large that the pressure of steam increases inside the bag while steam molecules are fighting for the available exits. Once the pressure reaches a certain point, the speed of release increases letting more molecules out of the holes and a balance occurs rather than the tea bag ripping as would be the case if it had no holes in it at all. Elementary my dear Naomi.

PS Check out Luke's blog for theological insight, rants and raves!