These 10 Uses for Tea Will Surprise You
Tea is a way of life and not just an ordinary beverage for all the tea lovers out there. Something about the aroma and the taste of the tea just hits differently and the best of us can’t imagine our daily routine without tea.
From starting your day with a sense of alertness to enjoying a relaxing evening after a long day, tea has always been our best friend. And, how can we forget its contribution during get-togethers? Tea has a lot to offer as an exceptional drink.
But, are you aware that there are numerous other uses of tea besides drinking? You can use this versatile ingredient in several ways to enhance your daily life. From beauty to cleaning there are a lot of uses for tea that will change the way you think about this drink.
Here, you will uncover 10 unforeseen uses of tea rather than drinking. So let’s get started.
Use Tea as a Natural Toner
Who doesn’t love youthful and smoother skin? You may even be spending on commercial toner for skin care. The good news is that you can now cut spending big on expensive skincare products, thanks to tea, a natural toner right in your kitchen cupboard.
Teas consist of natural astringents and antioxidants that help tighten and tone your skin to provide it with a smoother and more youthful appearance. The other good thing about it is that it is very simple to use. You can simply begin by brewing a cup of tea, then, cool it down to normal room temperature. Once it cools down, your natural skin toner is ready to use.
Simply, take a cotton pad and apply it to your skin. Add a few drops of essential oil if you like. This will enhance the toning effect further and also add a pleasant aroma.
So, the next time you are done making your tea, don't just throw the tea leaves and tea bags away. Instead, make extra use of tea bags or tea leaves by producing a natural skin toner.
Use Tea as a Hair Rinse
Is excessive dandruff irritating you? Do not worry, tea can solve it too. In addition to dandruff removal, you can make use of tea leaves for hair strengthening and providing shininess too. The plenty of antioxidants and vitamins in tea are to be praised for this.
To prepare tea as a hair rinse, you can follow the same process as you have learned for using tea as a natural toner. Simply brew your tea and bring it to room temperature. Once cooled, use a spray bottle or just pour it into your hand apply to your hair, and massage it into your scalp. Leave it on for a few minutes, then finish by rinsing it with water.
Additionally, you can also add other ingredients to tea rinse to enhance its effectiveness. Honey and coconut can be a great addition to moisturize your hair. Besides, adding lemon juice or apple cider vinegar can help remove excess oil and buildup.
Use Tea as a Natural Dye
Tea consists of natural tannins that blend well with the fibers. Also, you can use tea as a chemical-free and eco-friendly way to dye your fabrics. By doing that, you can give a subtle, earthy, vintage, and rustic look to your fabric.
For using tea as a natural dye, you need to start by brewing strong tea bags or loose tea leaves. After brewing, cool the tea and soak your fabric in it for several hours(the soaking time depends upon your desired result in the fabric). Finally, rinse your fabric with cold water and then dry it. This entire process can be fun as it allows your creative side to up.
We encourage you to use Nepali black tea for dying fabric as it has the highest tannin content to give a dark brown color. However, if you prefer a lighter color, green tea can be a better alternative.
Use Tea as a Natural Fertilizer
Surprising as it may sound, but the fact that you can make use of tea for plants too. To offer this particular usefulness of tea, the chemical compounds in the tea such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium come into play. These compounds aid your plants to grow and thrive.
So, do not throw your used tea leaves and tea bags, instead, keep collecting them. Once you have an adequate quantity, sprinkle them around the base of your plants, however, be careful not to cover the stems or leaves. Alternatively, you can also sprinkle them on the soil before planting. It provides a nutrient-rich foundation for your plant.
Using tea as a natural fertilizer will not only be beneficial for your plants but will also manage your used teabags and tea leaves in the most sustainable way possible. Isn’t it awesome to be contributing to the environment this way?
Use Tea as a Natural Furniture Polish
Talking about the environment, chemical-based furniture polish can also be harsh on the environment. So, next time you need to polish your furniture, we encourage you to try using tea as a natural furniture polish before going for chemical-based furniture polish.
The tannins content in the tea is an unsung hero behind the scenes for this interesting property of tea. The chemical compound can help remove grime, dirt, and fingerprints from your furniture. In addition, it also builds a protective layer in your furniture that can prevent dust buildup and damage from sunlight.
To use tea as a natural furniture polish, brew a pot of tea and let it cool down. Dip a soft cloth into the tea and then just wipe the cloth over the surface of the wooden furniture.
Therefore, using tea as a natural furniture polish is not only a great way to give your furniture a clean and polished look, but it is also incredibly sustainable. In addition, it also saves your cost on expensive chemical-based furniture polish.
Use Tea as a Natural Deodorizer
While commercial deodorizers might work in keeping your house smelling fresh, they are not an eco-friendly alternative to dismiss the odor and they are most likely to expose you to harmful chemicals. Hence, we encourage you to use a natural deodorizer, and using tea can prove to be a great alternative.
The antibacterial and deodorizing properties of tea can make it an excellent natural deodorizer. To use tea as a natural deodorizer, you need to start by brewing a strong pot of tea and then let it cool down to room temperature. Upon cooling transfer it to a spray bottle and spray it around your house for freshening up.
So, using tea as a natural deodorizer is a great way to freshen up your home whilst protecting your health. Give it a try and enjoy the refreshing aroma in every corner of your house!
Use Tea as a Meat or Fish Marinade
Planning a BBQ or dinner party anytime soon? Why not surprise your guests with a tea-infused meat dish this time? Surprised? Well, don't be. Tea is great as a meat or fish marinade too.
Using tea as a marinade is delicious and a unique way to prepare meat or fish providing a complex flavor and adding more juiciness. This process is rather simple. Start by brewing a pot of tea, cool it down to room temperature, and then ass your desired flavors such as herbs, spices, and citrus zest.
Finally, add your fish or meat to the mixture and set aside for a few hours in the refrigerator before cooking. This not only adds a flavor but also has health perks from the antioxidants in the tea.
Wondering which tea is useful for marinating your meat? Some excellent flavors that go well include black tea, green tea, and jasmine tea. You can also use black tea for beef and pork as it contains more robust flavors. Jasmine tea is ideal for seafood as it adds a floral note.
Use Tea as a Natural Wood Stain
If you have been using commercial chemical-based wood stain, then this is the time to switch to natural wood stain by making use of tea. Commercial wood stains generally contain harmful chemicals that release volatile organic compounds into the air, this can be harmful to your health as well as the environment. So, take this step to protect your health and the environment by using tea as a natural alternative.
For using tea as a natural wood stain, you need to begin by steeping tea in a pot of boiling water for about an hour. Just to let you know, the longer you steep the tea, the darker the stain. After preparing this, bring your tea to cool and use a brush to apply it to the wooden surface.
Another key perk of using tea as a natural wood stain is that the different type of tea provides different results. For instance, you can use black tea to produce a dark rich stain and you can opt for green tea for a lighter and more natural look.
Use Tea as a Sunburn Remedy
Is sunburn preventing you from going out on sunny days? If yes, it’s time to fight back. You can easily soothe and heal your sunburnt skin using tea as a home remedy, thanks to its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
In addition, tannins in tea can help reduce redness and inflammation, while caffeine can constrict blood vessels and reduce puffiness.
If you prefer caffeine-free options, you may consider trying caffeine-free Himalayan herbal teas from Nepal, which offer a variety of soothing and beneficial properties.
For using tea as a sunburn remedy, you need to start by brewing a strong tea and cool it down. Then simply dip a clean cloth into the tea and apply it to the affected area. Leave it for about 10 to 15 minutes before washing it with clean water.
So, next time if you spend a little too much time in the sun, no worries, as tea is here to your rescue.
Use Tea as a Natural Cleaning Agent
Tea to keep your house clean, sounds intriguing right? Yes, you can also use tea as a natural cleaning agent. To offer the cleaning usefulness of tea, the natural acidity and antibacterial properties of the beverage come into act.
To use tea as a cleaning agent, start by brewing a strong pot of tea with used tea bags or loose leaves and then allow it to cool. Dip a clean cloth in the cooled tea and apply it on floors, mirrors, countertops, or any other surface to clean.
As tea is easily available, inexpensive, and non-toxic, we encourage you to try using tea for cleaning rather than using expensive and harmful chemical-based products.
FAQs
What else can tea be used for?
Tea has numerous uses beyond just drinking. The beverage has many health benefits and it has been used for medical purposes for centuries. You can also use it as a skin toner, hair rinse, and sunburn remedy. Besides, it can also be used to delight your household as it is also an excellent deodorizer and cleaning agent.
What can you make out of tea?
You can make use of tea for multiple purposes beyond drinking. From cleaning and deodorizing your house to toning your skin and shining your hair, tea has a lot to offer.
Can you cook food with tea?
For cooking, you can use tea as a flavoring agent or marinade. This helps in adding a unique flavor and aroma to your dishes.
How is the tea used in the kitchen?
You can use tea in several ways in your kitchen. Tea is excellent for using as a marinade to your meat and fish for enhancing flavors. Besides that, you can also use it as a cleaning agent for keeping your kitchen clean.
How many uses of tea are there?
While tea is mostly used as a soothing and refreshing beverage, it has countless alternative uses. Some of the common uses include; using tea as a deodorizer, as a cleaning agent, as a fertilizer, and as a furniture polish. These are just a few examples, there are countless uses when it comes to the versatility of tea for alternative uses.
Conclusion
With an endless number of users, we are grateful to tea, for being such an exceptional beverage. So don’t limit the purpose of tea to just drinking. Try experimenting with numerous other ways to use it to improve the quality of your life as well. However, it is crucial to consider the quality of the tea to get the most effective results.
This is because low-quality tea will not have the same levels of nutrients and antioxidants as high-quality tea. The effectiveness of the alternative uses differs from tea to tea. Hence, we encourage you to purchase your tea from Danfe Tea. Whether you are seeking a refreshing and healthy beverage or experimenting with alternative uses, we assure you that you will not be disappointed with the exceptional quality of our tea. Explore our inventory now.
Danfe Tea brings you the finest loose leaf tea from the Himalayas. With over 30 natural loose-leaf tea variants, we offer 1 lb variants and also offer monthly tea subscription.