Today's Strands puzzle was themed around different types of tea. Some of the specific words that were part of the puzzle answers include Matcha, Chai, Oolong, Chamomile, Jasmine, and Gunpowder. These words are all related to the theme as they represent various types of tea.
The theme hint "It's in the bag" for today's Strands puzzle is significant because it provides a clue about the common thread that ties together all the theme words. In this case, the theme words are all related to different types of tea, which are often contained and purchased in bags. The hint suggests that the player should look for words related to tea when searching for the theme words on the grid.
The primary objective of the Strands puzzle featured in the New York Times is to find every themed word and ultimately reveal the spangram, which is a term that utilizes every letter in the grid2. The game presents players with a 6x8 grid of letters and a clue to that day's specific theme. Players must find words associated with the theme, and once a word is found, it will light up in blue. The spangram, which defines the theme, will light up in yellow when found. Every letter in the grid is used once in one of the theme words or the spangram, and there are no leftover letters in a completed puzzle.