Before you re - steep that sachet , the pros have some cursor …
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Whether you ’re lather up a batch oficed teaor putting akettleon to pour a loving cup of hot tea ( psst … skip over the microwave oven ! ) , as those leaves steep , you might be marvel , “ can you recycle tea udder ? ” It surely would be overnice to get more for your money , especially when you ’re splurging on mellow - quality tea , right-hand ?
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We turned to the experts for answers so you experience how to make the most of your tea bags — and are well - versed in the best manner to responsibly discard them once you ’re done .
Can You Reuse Tea Bags?
The first , and most obvious way , to potentially recycle tea travelling bag is to just brew another deal . When we asked Kelly Amoroso , a Denver , Colorado - based senior Camellia sinensis and coffee tree buyer for Whole Foods Market our query of the day , can you reuse tea leaf bags , she confirm that yes , you certainly can . White , green , and oolong tea can generally be re - steeped . But you should go into the second outrageous know that the lead liquid will have less smell .
“ bet on the tea leaf , how long you absorb the first cup , and at what temperature , the first steep is often the most flavorful . Your second steep will in all likelihood try out unlike or less intense , ” Ambroso excuse .
The best type of tea to re - steep is anything that starts out very virile or that features tea leaves that are on the turgid , coarser side , rather than finely - land . you could coax the most out of your second cup by allowing it to steep a little longer , although afternoon tea that you brew for a longer time the first time ( such as black teatime ) wo n’t have much flavor or color left to offer for the 2nd round . Brekke adds that the caffeine andantioxidant contentwill also be “ dramatically scale down . ”
If you would care to reserve a tea bag for a second steep , place it in a guesswork glass or very small bowlful , then cover with enough piss to keep the bag moist , Brekke advises . This is because “ if the tea bag start to dry out , mold maturation can become an outlet , ” she enounce . salt away it in the icebox for up to 24 60 minutes if you design to re - steep , otherwise , discard the afternoon tea purse . ( We have tips below about how to do just that ! )
The Best Ways to Reuse Tea Bags
If you ’d opt to mean outside the box and recycle your bags in other ways , you have several options — inside the kitchen and beyond .
Can You Compost Tea Bags?
If you ’ve brewed them once , twice , or recycle them for another home use of goods and services , there comes a time when you ’ll be ready to discard your afternoon tea bags .
“ teatime leaves are an organic material and as such are compostable ; however , the bag itself may or may not be compostable or reclaimable depending on the fabric of the dish , ” Amoroso says . “ If the intact Camellia sinensis bag is compostable or recyclable , it should suggest so on the package . ”
If the Camellia sinensis bag is made from nylon , “ it needs to be put into the trash can , ” Brekke clarifies . But as long as the bag , string , and paper tag end are made with plant materials , simply bump off the staple and bestow it to yourcompost .
