茶叶袋 literally means 'tea leaf bag' — a small, porous pouch (often made of paper, silk, or food-grade plastic) used to hold loose tea leaves for brewing. The word combines 茶 (chá, 'tea'), 叶 (yè, 'leaf'), and 袋 (dài, 'bag' or 'sack'). Unlike the more common term 茶包 (chá bāo, 'tea bag'), which usually refers to pre-packaged commercial tea bags, 茶叶袋 emphasizes the functional purpose: containing loose-leaf tea, especially when reused or homemade. It’s frequently used in contexts involving traditional tea preparation, tea storage, or DIY brewing setups.

This term appears most often in discussions about tea culture, home brewing, or sustainable practices — for instance, when people fill reusable cloth or mesh bags with their favorite oolong or pu’erh leaves. While 茶包 is generic and widely understood, 茶叶袋 sounds slightly more descriptive and formal, and is preferred when distinguishing handmade or specialty bags from mass-produced ones.