10 Surprising Uses of Tea Besides Drinking It

The next time you’ve finished brewing a cup of tea, or if you ever come across stale tea in your cabinet that you’re no longer interested in drinking, think twice before throwing it away.

There are several amazing and surprising uses of tea besides drinking it. Keep reading for different ways to reuse, recycle, and repurpose your Art of Tea loose leaf tea and pyramid sachets!

Use Tea As An Odor Absorber

Chances are that you’ve used baking soda to absorb any unwanted odors, but did you know that you can use tea for the same purpose? Since tea leaves are extremely absorbent, they can potentially help eliminate odors. Whether you use it in your fridge, sprinkle it into your cat litter, or incorporate it into a homemade potpourri, you might be pleasantly surprised by the difference some tea leaves can make! We recommend dried green tea leaves for the best results.

Incorporate Tea Into Your Cleaning Solutions

Tea may be used in a variety of cleaning solutions due to its ability to potentially remove grease, dust, and buildup. It has been known to help floors and mirrors sparkle and shine, it may be able to get rid of toilet stains, and as discussed earlier, it is a great natural deodorizer. Incorporate tea into your cleaning routine today!

Freshen Up Your Breath With Tea

Did you know that you can use brewed tea as a DIY mouthwash? Simply brew a cup of tea, gargle it for at least 30 seconds, spit it out, and voila! We recommend a mint-forward tea, like our Pacific Coast Mint Tea or our Moroccan Mint Tea, if you’re trying to mimic the store-bought mouthwash experience.

Let Your Plants Have A Sip

Steeped tea can make a fantastic addition to your compost pile, whether in loose leaf or teabag form. That said, you must ensure that the teabags you use are completely microplastic-free and biodegradable, like our filter bags or pyramid sachets. Additionally, watering plants with tea-infused water has been known to potentially be beneficial. Give it a whirl yourself!

Incorporate Tea Into Your Next Dinner

If you consume tea frequently, you’ll enjoy the unique flavor it imparts to various dishes. We love adding dried tea leaves to broths and poaching liquids to add an umami element.

Additionally, the tannins in tea, particularly in black tea, have been known to make it a great meat tenderizer. Try marinating your meat in brewed black tea like our Darjeeling Tea before roasting or grilling and experience the deliciousness for yourself!

Or Dessert

Tea makes a fantastic addition to sweet treats as well! Whether you bake it into your favorite desserts or churn it into homemade ice cream, we think you’ll enjoy the delicious difference that tea can make. Chaga Chai and Matcha Fresca are great choices when it comes to flavor and coloring, but get creative with it; you might surprise yourself with what you cook up!

Use Tea In Your Arts and Crafts Projects

If you love DIY arts and crafts, incorporate tea into your next project! We recommend using dried tea leaves in homemade soaps. The leaves create a light exfoliating effect and impart beautiful colors. If the tea you use has any added botanicals like the rose petals in our Rose Black Tea, you’ll get an even more breathtaking result!

You can also use steeped tea to create a natural dye for clothing and fabrics. As a rule of thumb, the longer you soak fabrics in steeped tea, the darker they will become. Try using steeped tea for your next tie-dye project and see just how powerful your tea can be!

Use Peppermint Tea To Help Keep Unwanted Critters Away

To potentially help keep unwelcome rodents away from your home, try using peppermint tea like our Soothe Tea and Dark Chocolate Peppermint. It is believed that mice, rats, and other rodents strongly dislike the smell of peppermint and will avoid it at all costs. Once you’ve steeped peppermint tea to unlock its scent, try placing it around the house to potentially help keep rodents at bay.

Give Your Skincare Routine a Boost

Take your skincare to the next level with green tea! Steeped green teabags have been known to make fantastic eye masks that may potentially reduce inflammation and de-puff. Be sure that the teabags have a chance to cool down before applying them to your skin. Pop them in the fridge beforehand for a refreshing boost!

Add Tea To Your Self-Care Ritual

Tea has been a staple for helping to promote relaxation for years, but did you know that enjoying a bath of tea can potentially be just as soothing? Infusing your bath water with tea may help calm your mind, relax your muscles, and depending on the type and blend you use, promote detoxification. The next time you're feeling stressed out, brew yourself a tea bath using Egyptian Chamomile Tea, and see for yourself!

As you can see, the uses for tea are endless! Get creative and find ways to make your tea go further. At Art of Tea, you can find delicious, organic tea that is just as amazing in your cup as it is recycled and reused. Shop Art of Tea

Cheers!