The teabag was an accidental invention by Thomas Sullivan, a New York tea importer. In 1908, he began sending samples of his various tea blends to customers in small silk pouches. He intended for the customers to empty the tea into their pots, but they found it much easier to simply drop the entire pouch into the hot water. After receiving feedback that the silk mesh was too fine, Sullivan developed pouches made of gauze and later paper. This revolution in convenience changed tea from a complex ritual involving strainers and loose leaves into a quick, everyday beverage. Today, billions of teabags are consumed annually, with modern designs like the 'pyramid' bag allowing more room for the leaves to expand and infuse.