Betta Tea™ | Natural Blackwater Tannin Replenishment
Betta Botanicals formulated Betta Tea™ in the Spring of 2021 to solve the issue of re-tinting a blackwater, biotope, and botanical method aquarium. We went beyond conventional brewed tea for the aquarium and curated a very nice blend of pure and natural botanicals native to your fishes habitats.
Why did we blend these tannin tea bags? Well, there comes a time in our botanical method aquariums when our tanks "just have too many botanicals" and the ecosystem cannot handle adding more leaves... Betta Tea™ solves this issue. It also provides a beneficial tannin source for aquarium hobbyists who don't enjoy the look of leaf litter or seed pods, but want the benefits that tannins provide.
We, of course, packaged our tea in compostable pouches! Did you know our product packaging is made from renewable and sustainable materials? So just like the botanicals inside, it will compost when returned to nature.
Hues of Betta Tea:
- Maroon was launched in 2021 to help replicate Bornean Peat Swamps
- Brown was launched in the summer of 2023 to replicate South American Blackwater Habitats
Now, we know there are many 'blackwater re-tinting botanical tea bags' out there on the market, and here is what sets ours apart:
- We blended Betta Tea with your fishes native habitats in mind.
- The tea bag itself is fully compostable (no plastic).
- The packaging and product labels are home-compostable.
- Betta Tea™ contains a blend of aquarium botanicals specifically used by betta breeders to both condition and help aid in disease recovery.
- Our product is intended for all tannin-loving fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
How to use: We recommend using 1x Betta Tea™ Bag per 5-10 gallons of aquarium water, as a starting point. Betta Tea™ can be placed into a mug of boiling water and steeped until the water has dropped to room temperature, and then added directly to the aquarium. Betta Tea™ Bags can also be placed directly into the aquarium, canister filter, HOB filter, or above your sponge filter. Remove Betta Tea™ from the aquarium or filter after 48 hours and give the tea bag one residual squeeze to release the tannins inside the botanical tea bag.
Quantities: Each bag of Betta Tea™ contains 32c tea bags.
Not for Human Consumption!!! NO PREPARATION REQUIRED!!!
Aquarium Botanical Location: Indonesia.
Betta Tea™ | Natural Blackwater Tannin Replenishment
Home is getting a bit more natural
While the aesthetic appeal of botanicals and tinted water can be quite attractive to us, the recreation of nature to emulate water conditions, feeding patterns, spawning displays, and territory building are the true benefits botanicals provide to our critters.
Botanical FAQs
Compostable Packaging Promise
Our packaging is designed to return safely to the Earth, just like the botanicals inside. Every bag is BPA- and Phthalate-free, GMO-free, and contains no animal products. Each meets ASTM D6400 composting standards, ensuring it can fully break down in a home compost bin.
What are the Fluffy White Growths on my Botanicals?
That’s biofilm and fungi—what we call the “goo phase.” It’s one of the clearest signs that your aquarium is alive and functioning. These growths wax and wane naturally as botanicals decompose. They’re harmless, even beneficial, and will disappear on their own once microbial populations stabilize.
Will botanicals lower the pH of my water?
That depends entirely on your source water. In very soft or RODI water, botanicals can gradually lower pH as tannins and humic substances accumulate. In medium to hard tap water, buffering capacity often resists these shifts, and you may not notice much change. At Betta Botanicals HQ, our very hard water (350+ ppm) shows almost no pH change unless we use botanicals like Alder Cones or Macaranga Leaves.
When should I replace leaves or pods in my tank?
We recommend allowing botanicals to fully break down into detritus, since this fuels microbial life and enriches the substrate. You can remove them once they stop tinting the water, but you’ll lose some of their ecological benefits. Each time you add new botanicals, follow proper preparation and observe your livestock until you learn your aquarium’s rhythm.
Are your products just for bettas?
Nope. Our botanicals are safe for almost all aquariums, terrariums, vivariums, and paludariums. The only exceptions are goldfish and axolotls, which may ingest small pods like alder cones or casuarina cones. For those species, we recommend large leaves such as Indian Almond, Loquat, or Jackfruit.
What are Tannins?
Tannins are natural compounds released by leaves, seed pods, and bark as they decompose in water. They soften water, gently lower pH, and create the characteristic tea-stained tint found in blackwater habitats. But their role goes far beyond color—tannins fuel beneficial bacteria, fungi, and biofilms, which form the foundation of a healthy ecosystem. They also offer mild antifungal benefits and help reduce stress in fish by replicating the natural conditions they’ve evolved in. At their core, tannins are plant-derived antioxidants that connect your aquarium to the same processes at work in wild flooded forests and streams.
Super good for my betta! Will be ordering again
Amazing product!
As always, I absolutely love these little tint tea bags. So happy I found them since the beginning. Theyve neve ronce disappointed me. They for sure help make everyone feel at home. Like my bettas, plecos and assortment of loaches. I enjoy adding them to my weekly water changes, aid in illness, and even active breeding with my hillstream loaches!
