When you next make a cup of tea don't throw away the old bag because it has many uses that you might not know about. Black tea contains tannic acid and theobromine which removes heat from sunburn so rubbing cold tea water on sore skin will soothe pain. Old tea bags can also be used to flavour rice or pasta.
In the Garden
Use weak tea to water your plants such as ferns and any other acid-loving houseplants to protect them from fungal infections. When on vacation, lace a handful of tea leaves or tea bags into the drainage layer of the pot; the tea will absorb water and will slowly release it back into the plant.
Teabags can do the trick if put to use properly. Teabags if buried in soil, will prevent insects or other pests from attacking your garden. The odor of the tea bag will repel bigger animals like cats too.
Rats, mice and other insect don't like the smell of peppermint, lemon, and cinnamon. Make tea with these rodent irritants and place the used teabags in places like the back of your pantry, under the kitchen sink or behind the refrigerator to repel these unwanted pests.
Peppermint tea bags – This one is probably our favorite since we've already well-established that mice are not fans of any type of mint, this method is a great way of preparing your own Mouse repellent.
Tea is relatively forgiving, and rarely spoils as long as it's stored properly. Old tea may simply be less flavorful and fresh than new tea, and will brew up a weaker cup with a stale flavor. In this sense, tea doesn't actually have an “expiration date” after which it will be unsafe to drink.
Help Roses Grow
Since roses love the tannic acid in tea, sprinkle old tea leaves around your bushes so when you water them, the nutrients from the tea will seep into the soil. You'll see them grow like crazy as a result.
Tea bags are great to add to compost your heap because they add nitrogen to the compost and also attract good bacteria. Tea gets its distinctive strong flavour from a compound called tannin. Tannin is a natural fertilizer which generates new plant growth.
When potting plants, place a few used tea bags on top of the drainage layer at the bottom of the planter before adding soil. The tea bags will help to retain water and will also leach some nutrients into the potting medium.
As mentioned, tea bags do not expire. Neither does loose leaf tea. Dry tea leaves and bags are typically good for a whopping two years before quality starts rolling down a hill. All teas made from the camellia sinensis plant, whether green or black teas, will begin to lose their flavor over time [3].
A tea bag should be soaked in about 5 gallons of water for 24 – 36 hours until the liquid turns a golden-brown color. This water can replace tap water when your succulent is dry and needs a drink.
Some people advocate for feeding their chickens used coffee grounds or tea bags. In small quantities this might be okay, but if there is any caffeine in the tea you need to steer clear. Caffeine is a methylxanthine that can cause your chickens some serious health problems.
Do tea bags break down in compost? Paper tea bags are safe to compost. In fact, they will break down just as quickly as the tea leaves inside of them. On the other hand, plastic tea bags are not biodegradable.
Bad odor in shoes is caused by bacteria in the warm moist inside of your shoes. Getting them dried out will help kill that bacteria and cut down on smell as well. Tea bags work well for fighting odor because they are so absorbent.
Grass Booster: Tea bags can also help your grass stay green and pristine. Just soak the grass seed in brewed tea before seeding your lawn, or plant your lawn with used tea bags. The nutrient-rich brew will eventually seep into the surrounding soil.
After brewing, the tea leaves still contain nutrients, including nitrogen. By burying your tea bags in the garden, you are providing a natural fertilizer for plants. Your plants grow faster and stay healthy in the face of climate change and pests.
In short, both tea leaves and tea bags retain good quality for about 6 to 12 months past the best-by date.
However, dried tea leaves that are kept dry will not spoil, and as long as they are stored away from heat, water, light and air, the flavor and phytochemical content can be maintained for up to two years. The more fermented and intact the dried leaves are, the longer they will last.
One option could be to perfume your home with scents that rats hate, like ammonia or the smell of mothballs (although mothballs can be toxic to humans, too). Other options include peppermint, eucalyptus and citronella, although none of them have been proven to be effective against rats.
Peppermint is a natural rodent repellant
Because mice rely mostly on their sense of smell, the direct scent of peppermint tea or peppermint oil is an immediate turnoff. Mice generally follow the scent of other mouse pheromones, which is why when the scent of peppermint is mixed in they get confused.
Mice can be kept away by using the smells of peppermint oil, cinnamon, vinegar, citronella, ammonia, bleach, and mothballs.