6 Ways to Reuse Tea

As a Tea Priestess, every one around me knows of my obsession with tea and often gifts me with way more tea than I can possibly use

And while tea does have a pretty long shelf life if it's stored correctly I just may not enjoy a particular tea enough to use it and I don't want to just throw it out so what to do what to do?

Find creative ways to reuse it of course!  Here's my top 6 favorites:

6.  Flavoring Foods
Try substituting tea for plain water in your rice or pasta, or try making tea dyed eggs...delish!

5.  Soothe Sore Nipples

When I was breast-feeding my son my nipples were often sore, so I soothed them with an ice-cold tea bag. After brewing cup of tea, I removed the bag to a cup of ice or just placed it in the fridge for later.  I placed the wet tea bag on the sore nipple and cover it with a nursing pad under your bra for a few minutes.  The tannins in *tea soothe and heal the sore nipple. (*note~herbal 'tea' does not contain the camellia sinensis plant.)

4. Perfume Sachets 

Use that wonderful smelling flavored tea as stuffing for sachets.   Place the tea in a muslin bag and throw it into your drawers to lightly scent your undergarments, or throw in the dryer to scent your clothes.

3. Throw a tea party for your plants

Roses, ferns and other acid-loving houseplants love the tannins in tea!  Just replace your water with brewed tea or work wet tea leaves into the soil around the plants to add its magic to the soil

2.  Tea Staining or Antiquing

You can give white lace or garments  an antique look by soaking them in a tea bath to create beige, ecru, or ivory colors.  Use 3 tea bags per 2 cups of boiling water, steep for 20 minutes and let cool.  Soak the material for 10 minutes or more to get a darker shade.

1. Tub Teas

Use those herbal teas to make yourself a bath fit for a queen.  Gather 3-4 herbal tea bags and drop them in the tub along with a few drops of essential oils if desired.  The herbs will release their qualities to your bath water. For an added bonus mix up some powdered milk and add that to your water as well!  So decadent!