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New Ways to Enjoy Tea

Did you know that tea leaves can be used for more than just being brewed and drank? In Japan, where tea is a significant part of culture, people have discovered various ways to use this plant. From cooking to cleaning to relaxation goods, the options are limitless! In this article, we will introduce some interesting new ways to enjoy tea.

Introducing Amazing recipes - You can eat tea?

Not only is tea delicious to drink, but it can also be used for cooking. When considering dishes made with tea leaves, many people may think of “matcha sweets”. However, there are a variety of other foods that utilize both fresh and used tea leaves.

Tea tempura

Try tempura with tea sprouts for a dish that is slightly bitter but oh-so delicious. If you can get your hands on edible sprouts, give this recipe a go. It's also popular to mix the drained used tea leaves with onions and carrots to make the batter kakiage (a deep fried fritter). The bitterness can be reduced by using tea leaves that have been brewed many times.

Furikake of tea leaves

  1. After roasting the tea leaves, mix them with your favorite ingredients.
  2. Use mentsuyu, soy sauce, and sesame oil to adjust the flavor to your preference.

To make the dish more flavorful, add in some dried wakame seaweed, finely chopped green onions, fried balls, sesame seeds, dried young sardines and small shrimp. You might want to consider crushing the tea leaves beforehand with a pestle for extra flavor or lightly toast them. The bitterness and aroma of the tea leaves go well rice; making it an ideal pairing for mixed rice dishes or ochazuke that has a strong seasoning.

Used tea leaves Genovese pasta sauce

  1. In a blender, mix together used tea leaves, olive oil, garlic, and salt and pepper.
  2. Stir this sauce into your cooked pasta, and top with grated cheese if you desire.

This sauce is not only delicious, but also eco-friendly because it allows you to reuse tea leaves. It pairs well with common pasta dishes, as well as meat and fish entrees. We only recommend using high-grade sencha tea leaves when cooking, as cheap leaves often taste extremely bitter and astringent.

How can tea leaves be reused after they've been used?

Most people dispose of their used tea leaves after brewing a pot of tea, not realizing that there are multiple alternative uses for them. These leaves can be perfect for cleaning, deodorants, and relaxing products.

Cleaning mats and floors

Tea leaves absorb both dust and odors, making them perfect for cleaning carpets and floors. To use them, simply scatter used tea leaves on the surface you wish to clean and sweep or mop as usual. If you have any stubborn stains, you can rub the tea leaves directly onto the spots. Not only will your home be clean and smell fresh, but it will also have a calming atmosphere.

Deodorizing microwave ovens and shoe boxes

Tea leaves can be used as a natural deodorant because they absorb moisture and odors. The deodorizing and sanitizing effects of tea leaves can remove unpleasant odors from microwave ovens, shoe boxes, and refrigerators. To deodorize a microwave oven, put the moist tea leaves on a heat-resistant container and heat it up. Put dried used tea leaves wrapped in gauze in a shoebox or refrigerator to absorb bad smells.

Put it in the bath or pillow and relax

Theanine, an amino acid found in tea leaves, is thought to have calming properties and the smell of green tea is said to relax the mind and body. So why not try making sachets filled with green tea leaves? These sachets can be placed in drawers or closets to give your clothes a pleasant green-tea scent. You can also fill sachets withused green-tea leaves and put them in your bathtub; when you take a bath, the scent of green tea will help you relax even further. If you suffer from headaches or muscle pain, try applying some cold brewed green-tea bags to the affected areas; the tannin in the green-tea bags will help relieve pain and inflammation.

There are many different ways to enjoy tea beyond just drinking it! Who would have thought that such simple ingredients could have so many different uses? The next time you finish a pot of delicious hot tea, don't throw out those used Leaves just yet - they might come in handy later on.

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