Extraordinary Ways to Recycle Tea Leaves

Extraordinary Ways to Recycle Tea Leaves

In the spirit of embracing our love of tea for National Tea Day, we asked our friends at Babingtons Blends tea for some extraordinary uses of used tea leaves. If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of coming across Babingtons, let us quickly bring you up to speed.

English style meets Italian flair. Victorian etiquette meets contemporary wit. Elegant tradition meets every-day ritual. Babingtons Blends are inspired by a legacy to delight. So, you can see why this exquisite range of unique, natural and hand blended teas is the perfect companion for your Spode set. 

rom gardening to refreshing at-home beauty treatments, used tea leaves are packed full of nutrients, or β€˜Chagra’, and can be a useful and sustainable lifestyle source for solving everyday problems. Read on for some top tea leaves tips – we hope you love them as much as we do!

Go green

Nutrient rich tea makes for the perfect compost and a natural fertiliser. No need for any preparation, after enjoying a quick brew, throw the used leaves straight onto your soil and, if required, work in a little.

The same idea applies to house plants too. Just scatter some green tea leaves in the pots as a nutrient boost for your plants. 

Time to relax

Herbs and aromatics have long been used in baths and spas. Simply dry your tea leaves out (see our guide below), pop them into a muslin bag and add it to your bath before enjoying a long relaxing soak in the tub. Ideal for foot baths too.

You can also rejuvenate tired and puffy eyes with tea leaves. Instead of drying the leaves out, simply place damp, cooled tea leaves into a muslin bag, or used cool down tea bags, and carefully place on your eyes. Then simply lie down and relax whilst your eyes become instantly refreshed. 

Odour neutralising

If you've been preparing food with strong odours like garlic or onions, simply rub your hands together with wet green tea leaves for an instant deodoriser packed rich with anti-inflammatory nutrients.

If you’re out of baking soda, place dried, used green tea bags (or leaves) in a small open bowl in your refrigerator and the scent will help to absorb any nasty food odours.

For another smelly solution, sprinkle used dried tea leaves in cat litter boxes to help reduce the smell. Strong aromatic teas are ideal. 

How to prepare your post-brew tea leaves

After enjoying your cup of tea, collect your used tea leaves and either use them instantly or dry them out for future use.

Ways of drying out tea leaves:

- With a tea towel, gently pat dry.

- Spread the leaves on a baking tray and bake in the oven on a gentle heat for around an hour. Or cover with a paper towel and heat in a microwave for at least 1 minute and then at 30 second increments, until they are dried. Be careful not to burn them.

- You can store tea leaves in an airtight jar or container and ideally in a cool dark place. On a hot day why not lay them out in the sun. 

Babingtons have also treated us to a guide to making the perfect cup of tea. Once you’ve mastered the art of tea making, be sure to tag us in any pictures of your perfect brew on Instagram.