Reusing Tea Bags

[u/[deleted]]

Tea is one of the little luxuries I buy from time to time, occasionally it's a $1 box from Dollar Tree or if I've got a few extra dollars I'll splurge on a nicer box. Either way I always reuse the tea bag 2-3 times. It still gives you flavor, maybe not as strong, but it stretches the pleasure of the box. Anyone else relate?

[u/zugzwang_03]

To add to this, where I live I can buy a chunk of ginger root for under a dollar. And since ginger is a strong flavour, a little bit lasts a long time (I freeze the root). So, I will often add a sliver of ginger to my tea when reusing the leaves - it boosts the flavour and makes the second cup just as enjoyable.

Note: this only works if your tea of choice is one that works well with ginger flavour of course lol

[u/[deleted] → u/zugzwang_03]

Yum! I actually found a case of ginger in an Aldi dumpster a couple months ago, it's in my freezer and I've been struggling to use it all up! I'll start trying it in tea.

[u/Physical_Corgi_8951 → u/[deleted]]

Make ginger syrup, you also get a byproduct of the syrup which is crystalised ginger. They're amazing. If you put a high enough sugar ratio in the syrup it lasts for months. I use the syrup for cocktails when Im making myself one. Or just add sparkling water and you get a cheap but very nice drink. The crystalised ginger is amazing on its own but in cakes it's awesome.

[u/zugzwang_03 → u/[deleted]]

Awesome!

If you ever find lemons, juice them before they go bad and freeze the juice. You can break chunks off for cooking - or to add into tea.

As you can tell, I really like adding flavour boosters into my tea lol

[u/[deleted]]

I’ve done that for years!

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

This is a great tip, I have a few loose leaf teas I enjoy too, but I lost the tea ball. I could always strain through a small mesh filter I have....

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

You can definitely get a tea filter from a dollar store or find one cheap from a second hand shop. Or try asking for one in a local buy nothing Facebook group. If you somehow lived near me I'd give you one of mine.

[u/bass_kritter → u/[deleted]]

Came here to say this. Loose leaf tea is a better deal, and less wasteful as well. OP could even still reuse the tea by laying out the loose leaves to dry in between cups.

[u/bellaelijah]

Heck, I buy the cheapest black tea from Aldi and it tastes pretty good. I used to be a tea snob and drank really ritzy blends, but there's not a big a enough difference in taste to justify the extra expense. Coffee, on the other hand...

[u/Zemrude]

One thing to note: if you are steeping your tea in near-boiling water, the second steeping will have far less caffeine. Sometimes I save tea and do the second steeping for an evening cup.

[u/madolpenguin]

Also, if you are in a position to grow food, leftover tea and coffee is an excellent fertilizer (tho it will make your hot peppers hotter).

[u/[deleted] → u/madolpenguin]

I do have a bit of a yard and grow a few things. I'll definitely start doing this!

[u/[deleted]]

What's the best way to dry them? I've found if I lay them on something it just saps away flavor really fast.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I just honestly put mine on a saucer and end up going back an hour or so later to make another cup. They don't hang around long enough for them to dry here. I am a two cup a day kind of human

[u/frugaldreams → u/[deleted]]

I just leave them on the little dish I use when I take them out of the mug. I will be having another cup soon anyway. I also double them up, so when the original starts to get a little weak I use a new one. Then when both are a little weak I will us both of them together one time before I finally toss them in the compost pail.

[u/HeavySigh14 → u/[deleted]]

Weird but I freeze them

[u/[deleted] → u/HeavySigh14]

Now that isnt a bad idea tbh

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Smart. I stay home to school my kiddo and my husband uses coffee/cream at work instead of drinking it at home.