What do you do once you’ve savored the last sip of your tea? Did you know tea leaves still have something more to give? Instead of throwing the loose leaves or your teabag straight to the bin, why not give them another little purpose around your home?
Tip: If you use teabags, just snip open the bag and separate the tea leaves before reusing them.
Giving your garden a little tea time
Your garden admires your morning brew more than you think. Don’t let those used tea leaves go to waste. Add them to your compost and let nature do the rest, or mix a little into your garden soil as the leaves slowly return to the earth. Tea leaves are best treated as one part of a balanced compost mix rather than as a complete fertilizer on their own.
Tip: Let the leaves cool and dry before adding them to your compost or soil.
A natural home freshener
Tea leaves can help absorb everyday odours. Place a small bowl of completely dried used tea leaves in your refrigerator, cupboard or other enclosed space where you would like to freshen the air.
Tip: For a gentle freshness, add a few drops of essential oil once the leaves are thoroughly dry.
A body scrub? Yes, a body scrub!
For a simple homemade scrub, combine cooled, used tea leaves with a little sugar and coconut or olive oil. Gently massage onto damp skin and rinse well. The leaves provide gentle physical exfoliation, while the oil helps leave skin feeling soft.
Tip: Always patch-test homemade skincare on a small area first.
Bid adios to tired-looking eyes
Long day? Too much screen time? Need a few peaceful minutes? Once cooled, used teabags can be placed over closed eyes for a few minutes as a simple cooling ritual.
Tip: If you are using loose-leaf tea, you can place the cooled leaves inside a clean, soft cloth and rest it gently over your closed eyes.
Appreciating your tea
At Empire Teas, we believe that appreciating tea means appreciating everything that goes into it, from the leaf itself to the people, places and resources behind every cup.
So, the next time you brew your favourite tea, save the leaves. There may just be a little more life left in them.
