Every day I look forward to unwinding by making a pot of tea and wrapping my hands around my warm vintage teacup (scored for $3.00 at the thrift store). The first steep of my Loveology goes so quickly while basking in the aroma and intriguing taste of sweet China rose blended with tart hibiscus. By the time I realize it, my third steep is long gone. Disappointed, I stare at the bottom of my cup, wishing I could enjoy this elegant aroma for the rest of my life. Then I laugh and remember, I actually can.
Here are 5 simple ways we can reuse our gorgeous tea leaves so they can live out their best life. We’ll start with my favorite:
1. Tea baths: My newest fixation. While offering a healthier alternative to common bath products with harmful ingredients we can’t even pronounce, tea baths are good for your skin and help balance your body’s natural flora levels. Place leftover tea leaves in something that contains them (be cautious of tea leaves going in your drains, as we do not recommend) and drop them in the water while you’re drawing yourself a bath. Our Loveology is my favorite option for a tea bath. The vitamin C in the China Rose can offer collagen production and hibiscus is packed with antioxidants to help fight free radicals and lightly exfoliate. This tea bath leaves you with silky smooth hydrated skin.
2. Plant Food: Let’s not forget our fellow earth children. Plants thrive when we toss them our used-up tea leaves. From moisture wicking, fungus fighting, to a major source of vitamins and minerals, tea leaves are the easiest and most efficient way to give your plants a little love and a delicious snack. Place your used tea leaves directly into the soil every so often, and your plants will thank you.
3. Deodorizer: Speaking of wicking awaymoisture, tea leaves are also amazing at absorbing any unnecessary odorshanging around. Place your dried tea leaves in a nice sachet or a glass container with a breathable opening and leave it in a public place. A few places I like to leave mine are the bottom of the trash can, dresser drawers,the bathroom, and even my car! My favorite scent for the car is our Jasmine Pearls. With their delicate floral and tangy grass aroma mixed with the heat of the warm sun on my car, it smells like I’m lying in a field of jasmine flowers while driving. Don’t forget this is an easy way to use a natural, non-toxicform of fragrance to freshen up your choice of area.
4. Pest Repellent: Looking for anothernatural and safe alternative way to replace a common household item? Insects despise the scent and texture of tea leaves. Most varieties of tea leaves can be used as a repellent for pests, but they especially dislike Green Tea and anyform of Mint Tea. The caffeine in tea also scares them off as it disrupts their nervous system. Spray common areas like window and door frames to keep those pesky critters away safely.
5. Beauty Care: Last but not least, incorporate leftover tea into your beauty care routine. Tea is my holy grail for supple skin and succulent hair, and humans have been doing it for centuries! Here are acouple of quick options to try out. Tea hair rinses are loaded with antioxidants and soothing properties that will help you maintain a healthy and nourished scalp. After all, that’s the secret to beautiful, luscious hair. Try using a crowd favorite: White Bud Jasmine GreenTea. The green tea provides vital nutrients and stimulates growth while having a beautiful jasmine aroma. Cold or hot brew some tea (a stronger steep is recommended for better results) and fill a spray bottle. After you’ve washed and rinsed your hair, saturate your hair with the tea and do not rinse. Another quick and beneficial option you can use your tea for is eye treatments. Soak a few cotton pads in leftover tea and place them under your eyes. The caffeine will de-puff and tighten, making it an insanely easy skin care hack for those weeks we aren’t sleeping as well. Bonus hack: if you stick the soaked cotton pads in the freezer for 5 minutes, you’ll improve your results. Don’t forget to grab a bag of Eastern Beauty Oolong, as it’s good for hair, skin, and nail growth!
Have another way you reuse your steeped tea leaves? Share some calm with us in this crazy world for a chance to be featured in our next post!
Enjoy life’s tea!
