New rules regarding powders of any kind;
It looks like that rule is for international flights bound for the US. So it does not apply for flights that are only within the US?
So far, only inbound flights to US, but it makes me wonder how TSA would enforce this rule? They have no jurisdiction over checkpoints at foreign airports. We usually bring loose leaf tea from abroad, so that is one more thing I now need to worry about. Sigh.
Coffee is sometimes something we carry as gifts. Oh well, I can check it into cargo and not worry about it. Either that or buy coffee beans instead of ground coffee. One more thing to keep in mind.
There is a second TSA-like screen, often at the gate, for flights bound to the USA. Depending on the country you are flying from you will find all sorts of weird rules. Once in China, all water - even water you bought at the airport - had to be discarded. This was before a really long flight - it seemed odd but the USA had said NO liquids from China at that time. China meanwhile said no lithium batteries in carry ons - only in bags. (In the US it is the other way around). In Dubai, they were screening food purchased at the airport. None was discarded as best I know, but it injected more delays.
A student who had a bag that went to the shooting range with her at home (many of my students have guns, it is strange to be teaching a group that you know is armed…) was pulled out for extra screening repeatedly. I was pulled aside in Amsterdam for extra screening at the gate.In Paris they got worked up about a fork I had.
So, re the tea, they may screen it more, but if it is in a sealed package (and hasn’t been to the gun range!), you should be fine.
Just plan on more screening delays at the gate (don’t arrive late and expect to just board).
Mr. flew international recently - no secondary screen. But that was not the crap hole called Amsterdam or Heathrow.
This month, I went through secondary screens in Beirut and Qatar. One time, they picked me out for individual screening. A female guard took me into a room and gave me a pretty thorough pat-down.
Beirut’s Airport was tough - we had to show our passports SEVEN times from the time we got to the airport to when we boarded the plane! And I didn’t mind AT ALL.
“So, re the tea, they may screen it more, but if it is in a sealed package (and hasn’t been to the gun range!), you should be fine.”
I have no faith in sceeeners. Lol, a coworker was disgusted when the screeners at Heathrow ripped apart a Tampax she had in her carryon. Gun residue was not an issue. 
I just flew domestically and was asked by TSA to remove all liquids (of course, the 3-1-1 rule), my empty water bottle (OK), my shoes (old news), to remove my laptop (OK) but now ALSO my Kindle and all food in my carryon (I often bring plane snacks like nuts or whatever).
At that point I wondered how poorly their x-ray machine must work that I had to take all this out for them. My backpack was basically empty as it went through. And my stuff was in 3 bins - one for the laptop, one for the kindle and one for everything else. Plus the near-empty bag.
I was in New Zealand earlier this year and flew domestically. Carried water, bottles of wine, kept on shoes, walked through only metal detector…none of the rigmarole we have here.
Sandwiches and other items meant to be consumed while waiting at gate or on flight are now also being screened separately in the US - depending, I’m sure on the airport. I’ve seen it done at ORD twice in the last couple months. Every European and Asian airport I’ve used in recent years (5 - 6 different airports) has had me remove my Ipad. I quit traveling with it
This year, I’ve had secondary screening at Hong Kong and Copenhagen. Within the last 5 years, secondary screenings departing Paris, Rome, Berlin flying direct to US. Heathrow (United Airlines) did not do a secondary screen, but they interviewed each passenger - “Who packed your bags, Have bags been out of your sight”, etc. They may have asked about liquids or duty free purchases, don’t remember. Hong Kong Cathay Pacific also now interviews travelers flying direct to US. Don’t know about other carriers.
Hong Kong duty-free cosmetic shop attendant quite properly asked where I was flying and told me I could not get my about to be purchased L’Occitane products through the secondary screening. Much appreciated as I’d forgotten. Now I won’t bring my Singapore TWG tea home in the carry-on any more either. I hadn’t thought about that being powder-like. Thanks for the discussion. I may have to start checking a bag. Frustrating.
TSA is extraordinarily ineffective.
Yet I can carry on my metal knitting needles and crochet hooks without a glance. No danger in those. No siree.
I carry knitting needles too, but I prefer bamboo so hopefully they will keep getting a pass.
A relative traveling with us recently had in their carry on a flexible roller used to relieve muscle tightness. TSA removed it, played with it a little, flexed it, and said nope. Relative did not have time to check the luggage, so it was disposed of. Not a great way to start the trip. Should have brought knitting needles instead. Decisions are so arbitrary.
Well at least they were able to bring back a whole loaf of GF bread in the carry on - although TSA did question it. Also was able to bring back a 2 lb glass container of salt that was a gift. Go figure.
I once saw a woman eating strawberries out of a ziplock bag by the security entrance at SeaTac. The strawberries would have been OK, but because some were squished and leaked a little juice, the TSA declared the entire baggie “liquid.” So instead of tossing her farmers market find, the poor strawberry owner decided to eat them. They smelled really nice.
It’s sad that TSA has employees who sound like they’re making very arbitrary decisions. It’s hard to have much respect for them when some of them cause hardships for no discernible security purpose. 
We accidentally traveled with a knife and scissors in our carry on, for multiple flights between islands. It was never discovered by any of us until one day when I was home unpacking the various bags. It was a lot of flights before I unpacked.
They confiscated a folded knife with a one inch blade that was on a keychain of son’s. He mailed it to himself but it tore through the envelope and he never got it back.
We have accidentally gone thru TSA with water—sometimes we are stopped and forced to toss it and go thru again and sometimes it passes thru undetected.
My dd was traveling with a toaster in her carryon (shower gift). She was lucky, it was a small airport and the TSA agent was rather amused. Another friend, got stuck in security for 20 minutes because she had Dove bars. She offered to share them with the agent but he wasn’t amused. Apparently, Dove bars are so dense that the machines have trouble with them. The agent finally let her go with the bars because they hadn’t been opened.
@“Delicate Arch” -We learned about the water rule the hard way in Beijing. We had all bought soda for the trip at the gate only to have the guards grab the bottles and throw them on the floor. My dh almost bought liquor at the duty free but the shop girl stopped him. Thank you, shop girl!
When I’m traveling in a country with a history of terrorism and they DON’T check carefully, that’s when I’m nervous. I’m looking at you, Egypt.
I never mind thorough screenings. The alternative is pretty bad.
Flying back from Munich two weeks ago, we were asked 5 separate times to produce our passport, interviewed 2x, it seemed a bit excessive. Particularly in comparison to the transition of flights between Greece and Munich which was pretty much old school thru the metal detector with shoes on, Have a Nice Day!
Don’t know what is up with food lately, but flying domestically and internationally there has been serious examination of food items in carry ons.
DD with torn ligaments wearing a Don Joy ankle brace, containing no metal, was asked every time we went thru security to remove the brace, which I thought was odd. She was supposed to wear it 24/7.
I was recently yelled at going through O’Hare security for removing my shoes…apparently they were “trying something new” and “we should listen better” ; of course the TSA agent explaining the rules had their back turned to my end of the line, who knows what he was saying! I just kept thinking “Dude for 15+ years you have trained us to remove our shoes… excuse me!”