ArtOfTea » Fun and Easy Ways To Recycle Your Tea Leaves

Fun and Easy Ways To Recycle Your Tea Leaves

By Melissa Chua at 10:43 am on Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The next time you steep a cup of tea, whether bagged or loose-leaf, save your used leaves. You can do a number of things with them. In the spirit of recycling and maintaining a sustainable earth, here are a few ways you can reuse your steeped tea leaves:

· Sprinkle on your plants and soil as a fertilizer for your garden.

· Add to compost.

· After you sun-dry your used leaves, leave in a damp area to absorb excess moisture.

· Tea is a natural odor absorber. Just like baking soda, you can openly place the dried tea leaves in your refrigerator to absorb odors. You can also sprinkle your used tea leaves in a kitty litter box or any place to remove unpleasant odors.

· Chill used tea bags, and place over your eyes to help reduce puffiness.

What about your teas that have surpassed their shelf-life? When storing your tea, it is important to keep away from three components: heat, moisture and exposure to sunlight. Additionally, tea can easily be altered due to neighboring spices and aromas, so make sure to store them in an area where the leaves cannot be permeated. We recommend placing your tea in an airtight container to ensure longevity and help preserve its flavor and freshness. With all these factors taken into account, unflavored teas can last up to one year or more, while flavored teas can last up to six months. Once tea is past its due date in freshness and flavor, you can always make potpourri!

I saved my old batch of Art of Tea’s Welcome tisane. This Fair Trade and certified organic, caffeine-free blend consists of chamomile, rooibos, lavender, roses, rosehips and pink peppercorn—all conveniently common ingredients found in potpourri. Here are three easy steps to make festive, fall-looking potpourri!