and not so good tea

Yesterday I was asked about how to use a tea that was received as a gift and she didn’t like the taste. Here’s what I said, and what I thought of later…

“Put it in a bowl in your refrigerator or cabinet to absorb unwanted odors.”

When people tell me about all the tea they have in their cabinets I suggest they use it in cooking – brew it regular strength and use instead of water to add a new dimension to salad dressings or soups.  Brew 1-1/2x strength in water or milk to flavor cakes and cookies. 

What do you do with a plain tea that you don’t care for though?  You could try steeping it for a shorter period of time and see if that improves the flavor; or cold steeping…either using a large T-Sac or putting loose leaves in glass jar or pitcher in refrigerator overnight. This produces a much lighter flavor, that is also lower in tannins and acids (gentler on the stomach).

You may also try mixing a small quantity with another flavored tea.  If that doesn’t make the tea any more appealing, you can always make a weak brew to water your plants with.  They aren’t flavor sensitive!  or just add it to your compost.  That way you’re not really wasting it.