lighting a tea bag experiment

• 1 tea bag - Note that there are some tea bags that are not suitable for this demonstration, namely those that burn up completely and those that are "glued" together in their middle.
• 1 porcelain plate (or other non-flammable surface)
• Matchbox or lighter
• 1 pair of scissors
• Safety equipment: 1 fire extinguisher

Explanation

• What happens if you light the tea bag somewhere else?
• What happens if you tape several "tea bag tubes" together into a long rocket?

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The flying tea bag.

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In this activity, students observe an empty tea bag that is set alight. The burning causes a column of hot air and gas from combustion to rise above it due to convection. When the bag is light ...

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Flying Tea Rocket

Launching an empty tea bag reveals the power of density differences and convection currents.

Print this Experiment

The Flying Tea Rocket is an adaptation of a classic science demonstration called the “Ditto-Paper Rocket.” *  Each two-page Ditto master had a sheet of tissue paper separating the two pages. It was this discarded tissue paper that teachers used to make the “rockets.” Since Ditto paper is – thank goodness – a thing of the past, science enthusiasts have found a simpler, albeit smaller, replacement: an empty tea bag.

* Ditto paper was used in schools many years ago (ask your grandparents). It printed purple ink on paper and produced an unforgettable smell from freshly printed copies. Come to find out later, however, that both the Ditto machine solvent and the ink were highly toxic to humans.

Experiment Videos

Here's What You'll Need

Tea bag (full to begin with), nonflammable surface (a dinner plate or shallow pan), matches or lighter, safety glasses, magnifying glass (optional), adult supervision, let's try it.

Use scissors to cut off the top of the tea bag. You don’t need the string and label or any staples on it but you do need to be able to empty the bag.

Empty the contents of the tea bag into the trash. They probably smell pretty good depending on the tea.

Unfold and straighten the empty bag. Open it so that it looks like a cylinder and is pretty straight. It doesn’t need to be perfectly round but it does have to be opened up. Place it upright on the plate or pan.

Light the top rim of the bag on fire all the way around the edge. As you watch it burn, think about what the heat is doing to the air both around and inside the burning bag.

Let the bag burn completely to ash and watch it liftoff the pan and rapidly rise into the air. You should be able to watch it rise quickly and then descend slowly as it cools. If there are any remains, look at them closely to determine what’s in them.

How Does It Work

There are actually three principles at work on the burning paper cylinder that make this activity happen.

First: There’s the density difference between the air inside the cylinder compared to the air outside of the cylinder. As the flames move down the bag, they heat the air trapped in the cylinder. The heat causes the molecules to move very quickly and to spread out inside and above the cylinder. These molecules are much farther apart than those outside the cylinder. That means the air inside the cylinder is less dense than the air outside the cylinder. Warmer, less dense air rises above cooler, denser air.

Second: The burning bag generates hot, less dense air inside it and above it. This leads to a “thermal” or a convection current of rapidly rising hot air above the flames. The larger volume of space generated by the hot rising air inside the cylinder needs to be filled. The cooler denser air outside of the burning cylinder moves in from the bottom to fill the space under the heated air.

Third:  As the bag burns, it becomes both ash and smoke. The hot smoke rises, lifts away, and dissipates into the air. A delicate ash frame of the bag is all that remains but since the ash frame is so lightweight, the force of the rising, hot air is strong enough to quickly lift it upward. As it rises, it cools and then falls back into the dish… if you’re lucky.

Real World Connection

While NASA launch vehicles use rocket propulsion engines to achieve an incredibly powerful vertical “liftoff,” hot air balloons are way more subtle. They use a method similar to your burning tea bag to launch into the cool, morning air. Hot air balloons use a burner to rapidly heat and expand the air inside the balloon. This creates the same air density differences you made with your burning bag. However, in a balloon, there is no mass change like there was in the bag when it turned to ash. That would not be a good thing in a hot air balloon. Instead, the air inside the balloon is heated much hotter than the outside air which creates an envelope of trapped, less dense air within the denser morning air. As a result, the balloon lifts off the ground and rises.

Check out our Solar Bags to see first hand the power of hot, rising air on a large, very visible scale. Two types of the Solar Bag  expand to either 25 or 50 feet (7.6 to 15 m) when inflated. Both harness solar energy to expand and then float into the air. It’s truly a sight to behold as a giant, black “solar sausage” slowly lifts off of the ground powered by nothing but sunshine and controlled by you!

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How to make a tea bag fly

Flying tea bags at home

Safe­ty pre­cau­tions

Ob­serve safe­ty rules when work­ing with fire. Con­duct the ex­per­i­ment away from flammable ob­jects and liq­uids.

Step-by-step in­struc­tions

Cut the tea bag with scis­sors, pour the con­tents into a clean bowl, and un­fold the bag.

Don’t throw the tea out – you can still brew it! Po­si­tion the emp­ty tea bag ver­ti­cal­ly and set it on fire. Watch as it burns and floats away.

Process de­scrip­tion

The burn­ing tea bag heats the air around it, which be­comes less dense. This leads to a cur­rent of warm air that pulls the tea bag up and away.

Dozens of experiments you can do at home

One of the most exciting and ambitious home-chemistry educational projects The Royal Society of Chemistry

Flying Tea Bag: Home Science Experiment

Introduction: Flying Tea Bag: Home Science Experiment

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Tea bag diffusion!

January 2, 2012 By Emma Vanstone 9 Comments

I love a good cup of tea. In fact, I cannot actually function without one first thing in the morning. If you’re like me, then this investigation is definitely needed in your house so that you can ensure your kids are equipped with the best tea-making skills and have the best scientific knowledge to back up what makes a good cup of tea! This investigation looks at diffusion through the partially permeable membrane of a tea bag.

So firstly, we want to know what type of teabag makes the best drink?

Is it a square, a pyramid or a circle bag?

The activity involves using hot water, so adult supervision is essential.

Teabag diffusion

You’ll need

A stopwatch/timer

A piece of white paper

3 clear glass mugs (you are going to add hot water, so not thin ones that could crack)

Circle, triangle and pyramid tea bags

Thermometer or kettle

1. On the piece of white paper, draw a cross with a marker pen

2. Place one mug over the cross

3. Add the circle teabag

4. Boil water from the kettle and measure out 150ml (if you have a thermometer, you can improve reliability by keeping the temperature constant)

5. Pour over the teabag and start the stopwatch

6. Time how long it takes for the cross to disappear

7. Repeat with the pyramid and square teabag.

8. To make the investigation results more accurate, repeat with each teabag three times.

Record your results in a table

How does the tea diffuse into the water?

So which teabag was quicker?

You should find that the pyramid teabag was the quickest.

Why do you think this is?

As the water is added to the teabag, it causes the tea leaves to move and triggers diffusion of the leaves. Diffusion is defined as the movement of a substance from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. There are lots of tea molecules in the bag and none outside. The leaves themselves can’t pass through the bag, but their smaller particles containing colour and flavour can (the teabag itself acts as the partially permeable membrane). The addition of heat (from the hot water) to the tea bag causes its molecules to move much faster than at room temperature. This energy is more readily released in a shorter period of time than a tea bag filled with room temperature or cold water. The teabag shape affects the surface area and the pyramid due to its 3D shape providing more surface area for diffusion to take place and more area in the middle for the tea molecules to move around in spreading the colour and flavour.

Ok, so now they know which is the best teabag to use and how to let it brew…so I suggest you ask for a nice cuppa now!

Last Updated on February 23, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

January 06, 2012 at 8:20 pm

What a fun experiment. You always find ways to make the most ordinary things interesting. Thanks for sharing on Monday Madness.

January 06, 2012 at 9:43 pm

January 08, 2012 at 5:37 pm

Interesting especially since all my tea bags are rectangular. I don’t drink it a lot, but and getting to like it more and more. I haven’t tried many brands yet so I will have to start exploring it more. Fun exploration with the kids and I think they probably learned a lot about figuring things out on their own from it.

October 23, 2013 at 2:29 am

awesome job

February 17, 2014 at 8:32 pm

Jah hey thnx.i have learned smthng http://

February 23, 2014 at 12:40 am

Where did the square teabags come from? I have enjoyed tea in that shape but can’t recall what brand. Thanks!

April 29, 2014 at 7:13 pm

thanks! thats really helpful we’re doing a science project on how the shape of the tea bag affects the taste so that was really helpful!!

September 17, 2017 at 11:32 pm

Interesting and helpful. Thanks a lot. Although the cross takes a long time to remove for some reason. Wasnt sure in what marker to use though.

September 29, 2019 at 5:28 pm

WOW i love talking about tea irs so fun wowowowow i learnt science from tea omg wowowowowow omg tea is so interesting

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Flying Tea Bag Ghosts

Kids’ science doesn’t get much cooler than these fun flying tea bag ghosts. Kids will love learning about convection and air pressure so much that they’ll be running to the panty for every last tea bag.

And, since this kids’ science activity is oh-so-simple to set up, you won’t mind repeating it over and over again.  And speaking of science, check out our jaw-dropping 30 Science Experiments for kids in our shop!

Follow the simple step-by-step below and then grab 30 more easy-to-follow science experiments kids will beg to repeat (plus a no prep science journal to keep track of their results!) in our shop or on Teachers Pay Teachers!

Getting Ready

To prepare for this activity, I grabbed a stack of tea bags, scissors, a non-flammable plate, a black marker, and a lighter.  I handed my four year old daughter, A, a tea bag and the scissors and asked her to cut the staple end off the top.

After A carefully dumped out the tea,  I quickly drew a simple ghost face on the now cylindrical tea bag and balanced it upright on the plate.  I asked a very anxious A to sit a few feet away and then lit the top of the ghost.

The tea bag burned down quickly and we were prepared to see our little ghost fly but he simply vanished into a pile of ash on the plate.  It took us several attempts using a variety of tea brands to learn that thinner bags like Lipton’s simply turn to ash.  We had the most success with slightly thicker Stash and Tazo Tea bags .  Once we figured this out we had lift off!

My little ghostbuster just couldn’t get enough and she couldn’t wait to share her discovery with the rest of the family.

The Science Behind It

To explain this kids’ science activity to my four year old I explained that air takes up space inside and outside of the tea bag cylinder.  Then I asked,  “What do you think happens to the air when we light the tea bag on fire?”

“It gets hot,” she replied.

“Yes, and when air molecules get hot they move around more and take up more space,” I explained.  We then pretended to be hot air molecules dancing around the room to the Ghostbusters theme song.  We needed a lot of space to move without bonking each other.

Next, we pretended to be cold air molecules slowly walking around the room.  I asked A if we could fit more cold air molecules into the room without crashing into each other.  “Yes, we could fit a lot of us in here if we move slowly,” she replied.

“If you have a lot of molecules in a space it is denser than if you have less molecules.  So the hot air inside the cylinder spreads out and is less dense than the cooler air outside the cylinder,” I explained.  “The less dense hot air rises above the cooler, more dense air. ”

“Heating the cylinder also caused a convection current ,” I continued.  “This is why ash flies up from a campfire.  When the air gets hot and spreads out it leaves space for the cooler air molecules to rush in.  This movement of air molecules creates a current that helps push the nearly ash tea bag {or campfire ash} into the air.”

“And that my little ghostbuster is how you make little ghosts fly!”

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Paging Fun Mums

Replacing Insanity with fun!

Magic Tea Bag Rocket

I remember doing this ‘Magic Tea Bag Rocket’ in Science class in Primary School. I loved it then and I still love it now! Now that the kids have grown a little, I thought it was high time I show them this amazing little experiment!

*make sure this is supervised by an adult at all times, is done in an area with no wind & that you have a fire extinguisher on hand.

Check out the easy video tutorial below:

To do this yourself you will need:

Lighter or matches

Take your Tea bag and snip off the top with the scissors, empty out the tea leaves into the bin or a separate container

Unfold the tea bag and hollow it out using your finger

Stand your tea bag upright onto the plate and light both sides with the lighter/matches

Stand back and watch the magic begin!

The kids just loved this and wanted to do it over and over again…I think we went through about 20 tea bags…I bet you find the do the same once you start!

If you liked this activity, then you may also like our:

pagingfunmums

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12 thoughts on “ magic tea bag rocket ”.

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My kids loved this!! It only seemed to work some of the time though. It worked 3 times of the 7 we tried. Not sure what we were doing wrong but, it was still really fun when it did work 🙂

Wow this was really fun to do thanks for the intertainment

I’m just a Grandma who loves to see the excitement in my grandchildren’s eyes when I do my “magic” with them!

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My 7 year old grandson and i love doing science fun together. this is a great activity and one he likes to explain how it happens.

More of a hot air balloon than a rocket, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. Might try experimenting with leaving the top closed (or folding it closed) and lighting the bottom… you can do something similar outdoors with a small paper bag, but you have to be careful. Do it only on a cool, wet day right after a lot of rain.

Didn’t work for us! I think you have to have a particular type of tea bag! Cool enough to watch your video though!!!

I just tried doing this but mine didn’t float. Is there a particular type of tea bag to use? Thank you

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9 Best Green Teas, According to a Tea Enthusiast

Find out the best-tasting brews (and why we should drink them, according to a registered dietitian).

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Best Overall Green Tea

Rishi tea sencha green tea sachet tea bags.

Best Value Green Tea

Bigelow classic green tea bags.

Best Green Tea Bags

Numi organic gunpowder green tea (three 18-bag boxes).

Many Americans are turning to green tea for their morning or afternoon pick-me-up and for good reason: This brew is chock full of health benefits. But what are the best green teas in terms of flavor? After all, if something doesn’t taste good, you’re less likely to drink it. Unfortunately, not all the brands out there make a great cup or pot, which is why we’ve compiled this list of the top green teas.

What are the health benefits of green tea?

Need more incentive to sip this superfood drink? “Green tea contains antioxidants like catechins that may help with oxidative stress and inflammation,” says Valerie Agyeman, RD, a women's health dietitian and host of the Flourish Heights podcast . “Some studies suggest it might improve brain function and focus, as well as support heart health by potentially lowering LDL cholesterol.”

Ever wonder why people offer a cuppa when someone is upset? It turns out that tea may also have calming effects that could reduce stress, according to Agyeman. One study indicates that tea can help relax the mind, without inducing drowsiness . The perks of green tea can extend outside the body as well. Drinking this brew may be associated with healthier skin, particularly in protecting against UV radiation damage , although these benefits can vary, Agyeman explains.

Do you enjoy fresh rain on grass? Then try this light, lively, almost juicy sencha that steeps into an all-around enjoyable cup. The larger tea leaves in the pyramid-shaped sachets are definitely an upgrade on the dusty dregs often found in lower-quality tea bags.

Rishi Tea sources its sencha from Kagoshima prefecture of Kyushu, where farmers follow strict growing procedures. The leaves for this type of green tea are steamed (whereas most others are roasted), resulting in a bright and mouthwatering brew. Think of steamed asparagus vs. roasted asparagus.

The sachets themselves are organic biodegradable and plant-based. Compare that to non-biodegradable tea bags and sachets, which may be made with bleached paper, plastics and nylon — leaching microplastics and chemicals when dunked into hot water. The packaging and organic sourcing contribute to a higher price point but we think you'll agree it's worth it.

Serving size: 1 sachet | Servings per container: 15 | Ingredients: Green tea | USDA Organic: Yes | Price per serving : ~$0.67

If cost is a concern, Bigelow nets out to just 20 cents per tea bag and is widely available in most grocery stores across the U.S. The steeped tea is smooth, without the bracing bitterness that some dislike in green teas. However, the flavor is much milder compared to other brands.

Each tea bag comes wrapped in a foil pouch, which helps keep out moisture. The tea bags themselves are not organic or biodegradable, however Bigelow is Certified B Corp, which means that the company meets high standards of verified social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

The package does not specify the temperature of the water for steeping (ideally 160° to 175°F for green tea). This is important to note because brewing green tea in boiling water (212°F) will burn the tea leaves and extract bitter flavors.

Serving size: 1 tea bag | Servings per container: 20 | Ingredients: Green tea | USDA Organic: No | Price per serving : ~$0.20

The gunpowder in the name refers to the pearl shape the tea leaves are rolled into but this brew also delivers a lot of bang for your buck. Just one bag produces a brisk, assertive and robust cup of tea for about 44 cents.

While tea bags from other brands may be bleached and contain plastic, the ones from Numi are biodegradable, unbleached and made from non-GMO Manila hemp fiber. The green tea inside the bags is Fair Trade Certified™ organic and sourced from a single origin (Jiangxi, China).

While a steep time of two to three minutes is suggested on the package, no specific temperature for the water is provided (we recommend 160° to 175°F).

Serving size: 1 tea bag | Servings per container: 18 | Ingredients: Green tea | USDA Organic: Yes | Price per serving : ~$0.44

Ocha & Co. Organic Gyokuro - 100g (3.5oz)

For the Rolls-Royce of green teas, look to gyokuro, one of the rarest and most prestigious types of tea in the world. Sourced from Shizuoka prefecture in Japan, Ocha & Co. gyokuro is rich and nutty with a sweet, concentrated umami. The company ships small batches of tea weekly from Japan so each vacuum-sealed bag is super fresh.

The shading process for gyokuro results in tea leaves that are less bitter and higher in caffeine (120 to 140 milligrams per cup vs. 95 milligrams for coffee) but with a lower yield. The labor involved in production also commands a higher price tag.

The cost for this tea is $1.75 for one serving, which is higher than most loose-leaf green teas but on the modest end for gyokuro, which can fetch up to $75 for one cup! Keep in mind, however, that you can re-steep the leaves three to five times after the initial steep.

Serving size: 5 g (0.18 oz) | Servings per container: 20 | Ingredients: Green tea | USDA Organic: No, but certified organic by Ecocert Japan | Price per serving : $1.75

RELATED: 45 Delightful Gifts for Tea Lovers to Savor

Ippodo Tea Ummon Matcha - 20 g (0.7 oz)

Lush and emerald in color, Kyoto-based Ippodo Ummon matcha looks like gorgeous green velvet in the glass. If the appearance doesn't seduce you, the fragrant aromas and rich flavor will. The Ummon also has a deep umami minus the astringency and chalkiness of many other brands, which makes it more approachable for those new to matcha.

The powder is finely milled and whisks easily without clumping, even when prepared with cold water for iced matcha. Each tin is fresh and vibrant, thanks to the small batch production — though that can lead to shortages in supply and week(s)-long wait times to order.

All these perks, however, come with a hefty price tag for Ippodo Ummon, which clocks in at $3 per serving. If that's too much for a self-splurge, consider adding this tea to your birthday and holiday wish lists for the ultimate in tea luxury.

How do the health benefits for matcha compare to those for green tea? "Matcha is nutrient-dense, providing higher concentrations of antioxidants and other nutrients since you consume the whole tea leaf in powdered form," explains Agyeman.

"Matcha also contains more caffeine and L-theanine , which can support focus and provide a steady energy boost," adds Agyeman. "However, because it is more potent, it’s best to drink matcha in moderation to manage caffeine intake."

Serving size: 2 g (1 tsp) | Servings per container: 10 | Ingredients: Green tea | USDA Organic: No | Price per serving : ~$3

RELATED: The Best Matcha

Jade Leaf Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha Teahouse Edition - 30 g (1.06 oz)

For a more affordable matcha that still tastes great, look to Jade Leaf, whose organic ceremonial teahouse edition was a 2023 Good Housekeeping Tea Awards winner. At $1.66 per serving, this matcha makes a smooth, pleasantly grassy cup (hot or iced) yet is not so prohibitively priced to preclude it from culinary use, like in smoothies, cookies and other baked goods.

The matcha is sourced directly from tea farmers in the Uji and Kagoshima regions of Japan, which helps keep the retail price modest.

Compared to our splurge pick for matcha, the powder was not as finely milled and, therefore, clumped a bit more when whisked with water. That's not a dealbreaker — it just means the matcha requires a little more time and elbow grease to prepare.

Serving size: 2 g (1 tsp) | Servings per container: 15 | Ingredients: Green tea | USDA Organic: Yes | Price per serving : ~$1.66

DavidsTea Korean Sejak Tea Organic - 1.7 oz loose leaf

Savory and nutty with aromas of salty sea air, this sejak variety of green tea has a real sense of place. It's sourced from Jeju Island in South Korea, where the volcanic soil and surrounding seas contribute a delicious complexity to the organic tea leaves, which are eventually steamed and roasted.

DavidsTea sejak is only available as loose leaves, which stand up to re-steeping several more times after the initial steep without losing much flavor.

When it comes to caffeine per cup, this tea contains 40+ milligrams, which is more than the 25 to 35 milligrams found in most other green teas.

Serving size: 2.5 tsp | Servings per container: 15 to 20 | Ingredients: Green tea | USDA Organic: No, but certified organic by Ecocert Canada | Price per serving : $0.70 to $0.93

RELATED: 8 Best Tea Infusers, Tested by Kitchen Gear Experts

Harney & Sons Decaf Sencha - 2 oz

As with coffee, when you remove caffeine from tea, you're also removing some of the flavor and body. That said, Harney & Sons decaf sencha manages to retain more flavor than most other caffeine-free green teas.

Compared to conventional sencha, which is bright and lively, this decaf version is lighter-bodied with a more roasted, grassy flavor.

Harney & Sons uses carbon dioxide to extract the caffeine from this green tea. This method has been found to retain most of the antioxidants in green tea (more than 90%) vs. the ethyl acetate process, which retains less than 20% of the antioxidants.

It's a terrific choice for an after-dinner tea or for those looking to reap most of the health benefits from green tea without the caffeine buzz.

This decaf green tea is only available in loose-leaf form, which makes it more expensive than most brands available in tea bags and may be inconvenient for some.

Serving size: 0.1 to 0.13 oz | Servings per container: 15 to 20 | Ingredients: Decaffeinated green tea | USDA Organic: No | Price per serving : ~$0.62 to $0.83

Ito En Oi Ocha, Unsweetened Iced Green Tea - 16.9 oz bottle

When you're too busy to even put on a kettle for tea, this grab-and-go option from Ito En is a savior. Bold and refreshingly dry, Oi Ocha tastes as close to homemade iced green tea as you can get from a bottle.

The crisp, clean flavor is due to just three simple ingredients: purified water, green tea and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Compare that to other packaged iced green teas, which may contain high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, sodium polyphosphates and calcium disodium EDTA.

Because it's a prepared product, it will cost more than something you make it home. Another downside is that it's only available in a plastic bottle.

Serving size: 8 oz | Servings per container: 2 | Ingredients: Purified water, green tea and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) | USDA Organic: No | Price per serving : ~$1.00

RELATED: 10 Best Iced Tea Brands That Actually Taste Great

How to choose a green tea

When deciding between tea bags vs. loose-leaf, Agyeman recommends the latter. “Loose-leaf tea is often higher quality, contains more antioxidants and doesn’t risk releasing microplastics like some tea bags might,” she says. “It also provides better flavor and more nutrients.” But if you know that you’re unlikely to steep loose-leaf tea, drinking it from tea bags is better than nothing. For most people, convenience is important and tea bags tend to be easier to use, Agyeman advises. “It’s really about what fits your personal taste and needs.”

How much green tea do you need to drink to see the benefits?

Two to three cups a day, according to Agyeman. “Some studies show benefits with just one cup, while others suggest up to five cups.” Before you binge-drink tea, however, she has an important piece of advice: “Please be aware of potential interactions with medications, and consult your healthcare provider to determine the best amount based on your individual health needs.”

How much caffeine is in green tea?

“Green tea has less caffeine than coffee, with 25 to 35 milligrams per cup compared to coffee’s 95 milligrams,” says Agyeman. (A notable exception is a type of green tea called gyokuro, which has more caffeine than coffee.) “This makes green tea a gentler option, causing fewer side effects like insomnia and jitteriness, and is better for those sensitive to caffeine.”

Is organic green tea better than non-organic?

Organic green tea is a good choice if you prefer it, as it's grown without synthetic chemicals, according to Agyeman. It’s similar to choosing organic produce: “While the health benefits are similar to non-organic tea, organic tea avoids chemical residues and supports more sustainable farming.”

Susan (she/her) is the recipe editor at Good Housekeeping , where she pitches ideas, parses words, and produces food content. In the Test Kitchen, she cooks (and samples!) recipes, working with developers to deliver the best written versions possible. A graduate of Brown University and a collaborator on several cookbooks, her previous experience includes stints at Food & Wine , Food Network, three meal kit companies, a wine shop in Brooklyn and Chez Panisse, the pioneering restaurant in Berkeley, California. She enjoys playing tennis, natural wines and reality competition shows.

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