Who invented the tea bag in 1908?

While the idea of tea bags dates back to the early 20th century, there's no single inventor. Here's the breakdown:

* 1904: Thomas Sullivan, a New York tea merchant, started sending samples of silk tea bags to customers. He accidentally sent samples in small silk pouches instead of the usual loose tea. Customers loved the convenience.

* 1908: Robert Lewis Johnson, a New York tea merchant, patented a tea bag made of gauze. This design was more practical than silk, and the patent is often credited as the origin of the modern tea bag.

So, while Sullivan's innovation is credited with popularizing the concept, it was Johnson's patent that solidified the tea bag's place in history.