Don’t throw away your brewed tea!

BEAUTY AND HEALTH TIPS.

BEAUTY AND HEALTH TIPS.

An energising eye treatment  

Green tea is known for its antioxidant properties so, after drinking it, reuse it to boost your complexion and reduce the bags under your eyes. Put your green tea or chamomile bags in the fridge for a few minutes and then apply them onto your tired eyes. Leave for about fifteen minutes, then rinse with clear water. It will boost blood circulation to help you look fit and fresh.   

An injury or mosquito bite soother   

With its coagulating properties, tea can help stop light bleeding while helping with healing at the same time. It also helps soothe itching related to a mosquito bite and reduce pain through its anti-inflammatory action.

An excellent fertilizer

If you have some cold tea left, dilute it with a little water to water your indoor plants: this will nourish and protect your plants against fungi and weeds. You can even scatter some brewed tea leaves directly into the plant pot so that the tea’s nutrients (nitrogen, phosphoric acid, manganese and potash, useful for plant growth) soak in and act as a natural fertilizer.  

An insect repellent  

Ants and spiders don’t like the smell of tea. To scare them away, pour a few drops of peppermint essential oil on the tea bags (already brewed but dry) and place them where the insects are. They won’t be back any time soon!  

Compost  

Of course, brewed tea leaves are perfect for nourishing your compost, as moisture can speed up the decomposition of other elements.  

NO MORE HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS, OPT FOR TEA.

NO MORE HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS, OPT FOR TEA.

Brand new clean furniture  

With two or three tea bags – preferably black – diluted in one litre of hot water and a little elbow grease, your wooden floors or furniture will look just as new! The tannic acid contained in tea will polish the furniture and bring back its shine. Once dry, use a microfiber cloth for extra sparkle. As it colours the wood a little, this mixture is ideal for covering up small scratches.  

Mirror, mirror, on the wall  

No need for chemical cleaning products. For a glossy and clean mirror, opt for the teabag technique. When it is still wet, apply on the surface to be cleaned. Wipe with a microfiber cloth preferably. It also works with glass surfaces.  

Tastea  

If you have some leftover brewed tea leaves, use them to add a personal touch to your culinary preparations: add it to the rice, pasta or vegetables cooking water, it will leave the food with the tea’s aromatic notes. For example, jasmine will season your dishes with sweetness and delicacy. In the same way, a very cold leftover tea – just like leftover wine or vinegar – can be used to deglaze a very hot pan to gather the cooking juices and make a sauce.  

Meat or fish, tea is the perfect ally  

If you want to gently soften the piece of meat you are preparing, use black tea to make your marinade. If you are about to roast a piece of meat such as poultry or a leg of lamb, when cooking, drizzle the meat with tea mixed with cooking juice (for beef, lamb or game, prefer black teas from China or dark teas, for poultry, prefer green teas). For fish cooked in foil, you can add a few green tea leaves to the vegetable mix to add some extra taste.   

Tea salad  

Brewed tea leaves can also be enjoyed in salads to add a touch of vegetable freshness. When steamed, they taste of spinach or watercress. When roasted, they smell just like hazelnuts. Let your creativity run free! To keep used tea bags, it is best to store them in the fridge to prevent them from going mouldy. However, tea bags can’t be kept forever. If they give off an unusual smell, it is time to put them in the compost bin