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.
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.
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.
How Long Do Tea Bags Last After Best By Date? For the most part, you are able to brew and enjoy tea made from tea bags for up to two years after their best-by date. Even then, you can still brew it, but your cup of tea may not taste as good as you would like it to.
When do tea leaves and tea bags “expire”? 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.
Boost potted plants
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.
Tannins are naturally found in tea, especially black tea, and it's great for removing stains and adding shine. This means tea can be used as a multipurpose cleaner for various surfaces around the house.
Yes. Used tea bags can also remove tough stains in the toilet. Just let it soak for several hours, scrub it after, and flush it when done. Instant toilet bowl cleaner!
Some tea aficionados insist that squeezing the teabag can release tannins, which makes the tea taste bitter. But there is nothing special about tannins that keeps them safely trapped in the bag until you squeeze it.
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.
When you incorporate tea leaves into your garden soil, they release nitrogen naturally which helps balance out any carbon-rich materials that may already be present. Reusing tea leaves also helps you improve drainage and adds to soil structure.
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.
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.
Composting tea bags is a “green” method of disposal and terrific for the health of all your plants, providing organic matter to increase drainage while maintaining moisture, promoting earthworms, increasing oxygen levels, and maintaining soil structure for a more beautiful garden.
Getting Nitrogen and Nutrients From Tea
Because orchids aren't potted in soil, they need nitrogen for optimal health. Orchid fertilizer and all-purpose flower fertilizer will contain the necessary nitrogen. Another high-nitrogen option for fertilizer is tea bags.
Why are Tea Bags Good for Houseplants? Tea leaves have tannic acid (tannins), a crucial ingredient in helping plants absorb nutrients. In addition to that, tea leaves include nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and other elements, which work great for plants.
Can you compost Twinings tea bags? No. Twinings teabags recently started using plant-based plastic (PLA). Unfortunately, this type of material is only biodegradable by industrial composting services.
All will eventually lose their flavor, and the phytochemicals (primarily flavonoids) they contain will degrade. 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.
Tea freezes surprisingly well, mainly due to a lack of moisture that can affect the cell structure of the leaves. Therefore, make sure you first seal the tea in a watertight container before freezing. Don't just toss your cardboard box of tea bags in the freezer and slam the door.
Place a tea bag in your favorite cup or mug. Bring water to a rolling boil and immediately pour over your tea bag. Steep for a good 3 to 5 minutes. (Great taste can't be rushed—it really does take the full time to release the tea's entire flavor.)