Yesterday, when I wrote about making my husband’s lunches, I mentioned that I made him tea. Not only is tea healthier than soda, it is a lot less expensive. I stretch our grocery dollars a little further by reusing the tea bags. I reuse each tea bag three times. I just steep it a couple of minutes longer for the second and third use. Another benefit is that I can toss the tea bags in the compost pile rather than the garbage can when I am through with it.
Do you reuse your tea bags? Have you found other items that you can reuse in your home?
This post has been linked to Frugal Friday at Life As Mom.
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Alea says
If I am going to reuse my teabag with in a couple of hours, I usually leave it on my saucer. If I am not going to use it until the next day, I put it inside a small container and put it in the refrigerator.
JoyLuck says
So, what is the process for "reusing" the teabags. Do you leave it on the counter to dry out first? Put them wet into a ziplock bag or what? Thanks!
Jack says
I have been reusing my Chai teabags and even after 3 times I am still getting flavor and color from them.
Perhaps the spicy ingredients of the chai are why I am getting decent results.
Alea says
Thanks Nick, I did not know about the plastic fibres.
Nick Palmer says
Everybody who tries to compost tea bags should know that they have plastic fibres in them. Everything else composts but a fine net of polyester is left behind in your wormery or compost heap! Here's a link to a blog post I did about this topic.
worms tea bags and tissues
Rebecca says
Alea, you are such a servant! Thanks for the creamer info (and thanks, Bellen, for asking).
Yes, I re-use tea bags, and I have noticed that Bigelow ones provide the best 2nd and 3rd cups.
Alea says
Bellen, I froze the creamer and then thawed it after a couple of days. I shook it well and used it like before without noticing a difference.
Stars says
My correction is that it makes insecure social climbers feel poor and low class.
Stars says
I reuse my tea bags, screw class consciousness, it means nothing at the end of the day unless you're a total snob.
Stars says
Tea brings out the snob in people, it does after all have it's roots (at least in the English speaking world) in high society, so subconsciously, it makes people feel poor and low class to reuse tea bags.
Struggler says
I did start to re-use teabags after I brought some very precious Earl Grey with Vanilla back from the UK and wanted to stretch them further.
The habit kind of stuck; these days I try to limit myself to 2 times with each bag – the tea does start to taste a bit bland after that!!
Sweet Annabelle says
I reuse my tea bags, but have to tell you that I have a friend who is horrified at the thought of reusing tea bags. She reacted to my suggestion that she just use my bag (I had taken the last of a box) as if I offered her already chewed gum! hahahaha
becheap says
Yes, I reuse my tea bags.
I also reuse aluminum foil and any plastic bags or food containers that enter my house.
Alea says
Bellen,
I have never tried freezing the coffee creamer. I am going to put some in the freezer (as soon as I am done typing) let it freeze for a day, then thaw it. I will get back to you and let you know if it affects the texture.
Bellen says
Question first – can you freeze the French Vanilla Creamer?
Tea bags – often reuse them but double up 'cause I like really strong tea
Coffee grounds – if I'm running low I'll take out 1/2 the used grounds and add 1/2 new ones. Coffee strength doesn't seem to change
Cate says
I don't reuse tea bags, and probably won't start anytime soon–for some reason, the idea really offends me! I have no idea why. I do enjoy, now that we've started composting, being able to throw tea bags and coffee grounds into the compost instead of the trash. Always a good feeling.
Melissa says
My mom and grandmom taught me to reuse teabags, and I usually still do that. These days I drink more coffee than tea, so I don't have as much opportunity.
The Thrifty Countrywoman says
My mother always gives me a dirty look when I toss out her used teabag out. But I think she reuses hers about a billion times!
Jane