Monday, January 12, 2009

Uses for unwanted tea

So ... New Year's resolutions often involve cleaning out cupboards and such. Here are some cool uses for those old teas you no longer enjoy (ie., tea bags, tea you received as gifts but hated, etc.)
  • Revitalize tired, achy or puffy eyes with a tea compress. Soak two teabags, TSacs or muslin tea bags in warm water and place them over your closed eyes, Relax for 20 minutes. The tannins in the tea act to reduce puffiness and soothe tired eyes. Chamomile tea is also particularly effective against puffiness.
  • Wash face with tea to cure acne. Rub green tea leaves over your face and wash them off. It's proven to reduce acne and it's cheaper than other solutions.
  • Condition dry hair. To give a natural shine to dry hair, use a quart of warm freshly brewed tea as a final rinse after your regular shampoo.
  • Stop foot odor. Put an end to smelly feet by giving them a daily tea bath. Just soak your tootsies in strongly brewed tea for 20 minutes a day and say goodbye to offensive odors.
  • Tenderize tough meat. Even the toughest cuts of meat will melt in your mouth after you marinate them in regular black tea. Here's how: Place 4 TBSP black tea leaves in a pot of warm (not boiling) water and steep for 5 minutes. Strain to remove the leaves and stir in 1/2 cup brown sugar until it dissolves. Set aside. Season up to 3 pounds meat with salt, pepper, onion, and garlic powder, and place it in a Dutch oven. Pour the liquid over the seasoned meat and cook in a preheated 325°F (165°C) oven until the meat is fork tender, about 90 minutes.
  • Shine your mirrors, To make mirrors sparkle and shine, brew a pot of strong tea, let it cool, and then use it to clean the mirrors. Dampen a soft cloth in the tea and wipe it all over the surface of the mirrors. Then buff with a soft, dry cloth for a sparkly, streak-free shine. Also great for washing windows and other glass.

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