What Do You Do With Your Used Tea Leaves?
Hello all! I am very new to tea. I quit smoking a month ago and my regular coffee was giving me killer cravings..couple that with the fact I recently separated and have 3 small kids to look after and yeah, I was wound up like a spring. I discovered tea and found a new love (and a new love that isn’t giving me a nervous breakdown lol) although finances are really tight I am trying sample packages to get an idea of what I like. But throwing the used tea leaves away just seems wrong..it’s still so awesome smelling even after a few steeps! Can I make potpourri or something with it? lol. What do you do with leftover leaves? It’s winter here so composting is kind of out at the moment so I wonder what other purpose I can use them for?n I’d love some suggestions!
Even though it’s winter I still use them for compost. Tea leaves and coffee ground help speed the process along and bring in worms. But as far as potpourri, I don’t know how well it would work. However, and anyone can correct me if I’m wrong but if you still have a good smell and color… Try steeping again:)
Well, I’m not the best example because mine go down the disposal. They keep things in disposal land smelling fresh, though. :-)
I’m a composter as well, and it keeps my compost bin from reeking XD.
Of course, the unfortunate side effect is that when I have a tea with catnip in it, our three cats lose their minds trying to get at the compost!
It’s great! It’s in DavidsTea’s Le Digestif and it is a godsend when my stomach is upset.
Being in an apartment and all, mine also go down the disposal. But between that and the assorted citrus rinds that find their way down there from time to time, it keeps it fresh.
I have had the same question. I know about the composting and I’m fine in the summer. But I have another question. Is there any thing to be done with the herbal teas? Some of them have so many chunks of fruit that I can hardly bear to throw them out. They look like they should be used in a cake batter or as a pie filling! Some times I actually pick out pieces to eat. Any ideas?
We compost year round in Nova Scotia, and that is where mine go. We recently moved to a rural house and are maintaining our own compost rather than using the municipal pickup but the leaves still go in the bin with the food scraps. My problem now is what to do with meat scraps! :-)
When I lived in a house, we composted, and it was great. Now I live in a flat and everything goes in the bin. It makes me terribly sad. That lovely tea could be feeding my garden soil… if I still had a garden to feed :(
I compost them as well, actually keep it in sealed glass jars of tea (or rooibos) exclusive compost material – sometimes I do not use it in the compost mix, just use it like that it´s an awesome natural fertilizer though only for acid loving plants. I put it in hydrangeas and camellias. Do not use them for alkaline loving plants though or for anything you plan to eat (though most do not like acid soils anyway)
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