What Can I Do with Expired Tea Bags? (Solved & Explained!)

In the long list of revolutionary edible items, an unexpired tea bag is sure to nail its place. But what do you do when an unused tea bag crosses its expiration date?

Expired tea bags have many uses apart from drinking, ranging from getting rid of puffy eyes with dark circles, stain removal from fabrics, fresh skin by opening blocked pores, and even organic fertilizers. Additionally, they help eliminate odor from closed-toe shoes and clean mirrors and windows. 

To know more about the uses of expired, used, or unused tea bags, read the article below!

How can I detect an expired tea bag?

Expired tea bags are known by the date mentioned on the package. However, if the date is not visible or has been wiped off, the three ways mentioned below can help detect an expired tea bag:

• No flavor or scent: An expired tea bag has no smell when handled and no taste when processed for tea making. An expired tea bag will not produce the required tea when added to hot water, leaving the water brown and flavorless. Since teas have concentrated leaves that quickly add taste to hot water, expired teas are easy to tell from fresh ones.
• Molds are visible: In some cases, visible molds inside or on the tea bag can help know if the tea has crossed its expiration date. In such cases, the tea bag should be thrown away immediately as drinking such teas can harm one’s health.
• Odors: Expired tea bags have a distinct smell that they produce, formed from moisture exposure. This exposure causes the tea bags to partially brew, leaving them to sit and rot in their casings. One should throw such bags away as they become the perfect living spots for algae and harmful bacteria.

How to use expired tea bags?

Expired tea bags should not be consumed in any way, mainly because of the health risks. However, tea bags can use them externally in the 5 methods mentioned below:

1. Removes odors: Expired tea bags help eliminate odors caused by sweat, cutting strong-smelling vegetables or even seafood. This happens by rubbing a soaked or damp tea bag on your hands and fingers, then thoroughly washing them with soap and water.

To remove odor inside shoes, place a dry tea bag inside your shoe and leave it for 30 minutes. Then, drag the tea bag and wear your fresh-smelling shoes! Your shoes will pick up the scent of the flavored tea bag, so place the flavor you’d like your shoes to smell like.

1. Removes puff from eyes: Green or black tea bags help remove the puffiness eyes tend to have as a result of stress or lack of sleep. Follow the steps below to eliminate this:
2. In a bowl of lukewarm-hot water, soak 2 tea bags.
3. Once soaked, keep the bowl in the fridge for 30 minutes.
4. Remove the tea bags and squeeze out excess water.
5. Place bags on the eyes for 15 minutes.
6. Enjoy your no-puff eyes!

Tip: Refresh the tea bags by dipping them in the water according to need. Dab the bags on your face as well as a quick refreshing mask!

1. Mirrors and windows: Black tea works best to remove grease and dirt from mirrors and windows. The tannic acid in the tea helps dissolve and easily eliminate these contaminants from reflective and opaque surfaces. Brew a strong black tea in hot water and let the water cool once the tea is ready. Fill a spray bottle with this cool liquid and spray and wipe where needed.
2. Foot Baths: Tea helps eliminate odors from feet and kills bacteria that reside on the skin of feet. Place 5-6 tea bags of your flavor choice and let them soak in boiling water for 5 minutes. Discard the tea bags and allow the water to cool. Soak your feet in the water for 20-30 minutes. Tip: add rose water or any shampoo for a quick at-home pedicure!
3. Stops bleeding from gums: Due to its tannic acid composure, black tea helps stop excessive bleeding from gums and teeth after dental procedures such as root canals and extractions. To get the most out of the tea bag, make a cup of hot black tea, remove and let it cool. After this, place the tea bag on the affected gum for a minimum of 5 minutes or until the bleeding stops. 

Black tea has additive herbal and antiseptic properties. Following this technique, the buildup of bacteria and other harmful microorganisms will be diminished, preventing further toothaches and dental decay.

Why is it useful as compost?

Placing a tea bag in the soil will help increase that soil’s acidity levels (lower pH). This is because of the anti-oxidation properties of the tea when in water. The acidity of the damp tea bag lasts around a week in regularly watered soils and is great for home planting certain seeds, including pepper, parsley, radish, sweet potatoes, and azalea flowers. However, the choice of plants placed in this acidic soil should be carefully selected as this soil may not be suitable for all plants.

How to prevent tea bags from going bad?

While expired and rotten tea bags have numerous benefits, maintaining their primary use as a hot beverage is also important. To do this, several methods can be adopted, including:

1. Store tea bags in the freezer: This helps slow down possible bacterial growth on tea bags, letting them last longer.
2. Store tea bags in airtight containers: This will prevent the entry of humidity or moisture inside the tea bags, preventing mold formation and untimely rotting of teas.
3. Store in dark places: Tea bags stored in cool, shady spots tend to last longer than those kept at room temperature and exposed to sunlight. Sunlight can penetrate the external coatings of tea bags and possibly alter their flavor due to heat and UV exposure.

Conclusion

Tea bags hold tea’s natural essence and the flavor used to fortify the experience. Making the most of these is important as a lot of energy and hard work goes into making tea bags from loose tea leaves. Getting creative with the experiences of fresh and expired tea bags does wonder in the long run!