There’s no better way to cozy up in the autumn chill than with a steaming cup of organic loose-leaf tea - and Jolene’s Tea House, nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Banff, Alberta, is our go-to for that warm morning mug of goodness!

So once you’ve steeped and re-steeped those delicious Yoga Chai or Scarlet Berry tea leaves and you’re ready to make your way to the compost bin, take a pause! They might just have some surprising uses up their sleeves…

Deodorizing: Dry tea leaves are extremely absorbent, not only of water, but of nasty odours as well! To see for yourself, sprinkle some green tea into your kitty’s litter box, or leave a pouch in your fridge. I like to place some of Jolene’s Jasmint blend into my shoes once they start getting a little, well, funky. The mint tea gives them a fresh scent as a bonus!

House Cleaning: Tea can be a clever cleaning agent, thanks to its astringency and tannic acid content. Steep some Black Unblended tea to add to your mop water for hardwood floors or use as a glass cleaner for your mirrors and windows. Remember those used tea leaves you were about to throw out? Throw them in the toilet instead! Then wait 1 to 2 hours and flush to remove stains.

Plant + Garden Care: Next time you find a cold, forgotten cup of tea sitting around, try using it to water your plants and incorporate the leaves into the soil. This can improve its structure and drainage, aid the breakdown process of compost, increase soil nitrogen, and balance carbon materials!

Cooking: There are plenty of delicious flavours and umami elements to be reaped from blending tea leaves into poaching liquids and broths. I recommend adding Hojicha tea into soup to give it some earthy richness, or using some woodsy Lapsang Souchong to smoke fish and steaks. Among other black teas, it can also be an excellent tenderizer for marinating meats.

Personal Care: Saving the best for last, there are still endless benefits to bringing along some tea for your me-time and self-care practices. First off, you can steep and cool some mint, cinnamon, or lemongrass tea to use as a mouthwash! Tea can also be steeped into soothing foot soaks and infused into calming baths. We suggest making some cooling and de-puffing eye bags using Jolene’s organic Matcha.

Thank you for joining me on this journey of discovery about all the wonderful hidden gifts of tea! Make sure to check out our selection of products from Jolene’s Tea House, whether you plan on simply drinking them, or trying something different!