Why does tea leaves disappear in tea?

* Infusion: When hot water is poured over tea leaves, the water extracts the soluble compounds that give tea its flavor and color. These compounds, like tannins, flavonoids, and caffeine, dissolve in the water.

* Expansion and Release: As the hot water interacts with the leaves, they expand and release these compounds into the water.

* Sedimentation: Some of the leaf material, like the fibers and cellulose, are not soluble. These parts settle to the bottom of the cup or teapot as sediment.

* Appearance: The dissolved compounds create the colored tea liquid, leaving behind a smaller amount of the original leaf structure. This makes it seem like the leaves have "disappeared," but they're actually just broken down and mixed into the water.

So, it's more accurate to say that the tea leaves transform into the tea we drink rather than disappear completely.