{"id":18066,"date":"2014-10-20T13:20:59","date_gmt":"2014-10-20T17:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145705.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=18066"},"modified":"2014-10-20T13:20:59","modified_gmt":"2014-10-20T17:20:59","slug":"15-things-can-used-tea-bags","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/15-things-can-used-tea-bags\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Things You Can Do with Used Tea Bags"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/p>\n Born and raised in Louisiana, I know how much Southerners like our tea. And we are not alone. Second to water, tea is one of the most consumed drinks in the world.<\/a> Oftentimes we toss brewed tea bags after only one use, but surprisingly there are at least 17 ways they can be reused long after your last sip.<\/p>\n At first it seemed a bit strange to reuse my family\u2019s old tea bags, but I then considered the long list of benefits. Not only is it a great way to stretch our dollars, but it helps to lessen the negative environmental impact of the tea business. As the demand for tea continues to increase, more farming land is required to grow the approximate 4 million tons of tea leaves each year.<\/a> Plants and animals living in these habitats are forced to relocate and adapt. People living near tea plantations sometimes experience their waterways being contaminated with runoff of chemically-ridden pesticides and fertilizers.<\/p>\n Furthermore, trees are cut down to make paper for tea bags and packaging. Fuel and other natural resources also are over-utilized in shipping tea from leading manufactures in Africa, Asia and India to consumers around the globe. I\u2019m not sharing this information to convince you to stop drinking tea. Instead, the next time you sit down to have your cup of tea, reflect on the labor, time and resources it required to get it from the farm to you. Maybe reusing steeped tea bags isn\u2019t so bad after all.<\/p>\n The abundance of antioxidants and tannins, also known as tannic acids, in tea makes it one of nature\u2019s most versatile resources. From shining leather shoes to soothing irritated skin, here are some ideas of how tea bags and its contents can be recycled:<\/p>\n In Your Home <\/b><\/p>\n Gardening<\/b><\/p>\n Beauty & Health<\/b><\/p>\n What other ways do you repurpose ground tea and\/or tea bags? If you think I\u2019ve missed any tips, leave me a note in the comment section. I\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Writer\u2019s Note:<\/strong> The information shared here should not be substituted for a medical professional\u2019s opinion.<\/p>\nBe a Responsible Tea Drinker: Repurpose Your Used Tea Bags<\/h3>\n
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