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I'm guilty of often over-estimating and over-brewing how much tea I really want to drink when I steep it in a pot. Sometimes I'll brew a whole pot and think that I will want to drink it all, only to drink a cup and not want anymore. I hate wasting things, and so I've tried to be more careful about how much I might realistically drink and what to do with left over tea.
There is, of course, always iced tea. I've noticed that the same kind of tea tastes totally different cold then hot, and doesn't always call for the same additional ingredients, if any at all. For example, I always put milk in my chai, but left over chai iced tea that I leave to sit in the fridge tastes much better naked and alone.
That's not the only thing I do with leftover liquid. Every so often I put some in my tropical plants. Not only the liquid, but also the tea leaves themselves. Plants that like acid or alkaline, such as azaleas, hydrangeas, dogwood, raspberries, blueberries, and most tropical plants, thrive when their soil is enhanced with the acid from teas, especially black teas. Acid-loving plants don't need this often, maybe a few times a year, but it can aid in the fullness of their leaves, the vibrancy of their color, and the overall strength and productivity of the plant. If you have a garden, the spring is a good time to mix tea leaves in with the soil, or you can add liquid tea or leaves to water and water your garden with this mixture.
Otherwise, tea leaves are always a great addition to a compost pile. This helps to aid in the breakdown of organic matter in the compost, and gives the soil nitrogen. Nothing needs to be wasted!
 Not many of my friends drink tea. I think it must be a generational thing - we were brought up to eat cereal in the morning and dash out the door. Who has time for tea? Well, to help introduce your friends to the world of healthy and delicious tea, there are a few things I have learned to do.
1) Fun Coffee Shop Options: When you and your friend are in a Starbuck's (or Peet's, etc), have them try a hot Chai Tea Latte. This is a personal favorite of mine, especially on a cold day, because it's so warm and spicy. On a hot day, Green Tea Frappuccinos (AKA Freddos), or Iced Green Tea Lemonades are extremely refreshing, and lighter than an iced coffee. Even though these beverages aren't very healthy, at least your friend will get a taste of the delicious potentials of tea.
2) Tea at Work: Many of us have access to a microwave at our jobs. Microwave + water + mug + tea leaves = hot tea in minutes! It's so simple, what's to stop you from bringing an extra mug and extra tea leaves for your co-worker to share? In a small store with a slow pace, you can expose them to all your favorite teas during your downtime.
3) Iced Tea: Who can resist iced tea with lemon? It's always tasty, especially if it's homemade. Any party you are invited to - bring some iced tea in a pitcher and witness what a hit it is. It's such an easy drink to make in bulk, I just keep a container of cold, lightly sweetened tea in my refrigerator and invite my roommates to take as much as they like.
4) Pearl Drinks: Another fun way to drink tea is via Pearl Milk Tea, AKA Bubble Tea, AKA Boba Milk Tea. Originally from Taiwan, this drink is a hit in Asia, and has since spread internationally. Pearl Tea has milk, sugar, ice and chewy tapioca balls, "pearls", at the bottom. I enjoy the tapioca balls because they deter my urge to drink most of the tea in one sip. They also offer a multitude of flavors and different options instead of the tapioca balls.
And remember that small steps towards a goal are better than none at all! Hardly anyone becomes a die-hard tea drinker overnight. But, for instance, one exposure to green tea at work, might lead to several Green Tea Frappuccinos, which might lead to a whole obsession and the more sophisticated consumption of green tea!
Ah, late summer. Back to school sales and labor day weekend plans. Everyone tries to fit in the warm weather activities they have somehow neglected over the past few months. But there is still time to squeeze in a few more barbecues, ball games, and iced cold beverages such as...sun tea! Yes, summer provides days with the most hours of sunlight and therefore the most opportunities to brew your favorite tea utilizing those UV rays. I have found that the best leaves for sun brewing are black teas, which produce rich caramel hues as the afternoon sun does its work. Simply place the tea in a large glass container for steeping, fill with water, and place in direct sunlight for a few hours. Place the container in the refrigerator or add ice for a refreshing iced tea blend, the perfect beverage for those waning nights of porch sitting and mosquito zapping. Throw in some lemon slices or mint leaves during the brewing process to enhance sun tea's light flavor.
I can remember the first time I had Thai iced tea. I was at a little mom and pop Thai place and was feeling like some tea. I went ahead and ordered a large iced tea figuring it would just be black tea with a bit of sweetener in it. When they brought it out, the first thing I thought was,  "This is huge!" because they had served me an Octoberfest stein of tea. (For those unfamiliar with Octoberfest, they have very big mugs.) The second thing I noticed was that the tea had some sort of creme or milk in it because the tea was a light brown instead of the usual black. I decided I was paying for it, so I may as well give it a try, and it was amazing. I have gone back to that Thai place just because I wanted the Thai iced tea.
If you haven't tried Thai iced tea you're in luck. I have a recipe to share, and it's easy to make!
Ingredients
- 6 C Vanilla Creme Earl Grey - black tea
- star anise, ground tamarind, cardamom and/or other spices, to taste (optional)
- 1/2 C sugar
- 1/2 C sweetened condensed milk
- 1 C evaporated milk
Directions:
- Make the tea. While you steep it, you'll want to add any spices you'd like to add.
- While the tea is still hot, stir in sugar until dissolved, then stir in condensed milk.
- Allow tea mixture to cool to room temperature or colder.
- Fill tall iced tea glasses with ice, and pour in tea mixture until glasses are roughly 3/4 full.
- Top off glasses with evaporated milk.
- Enjoy!
Notes:
-Though any black tea will work, I have found using Earl Grey tea to be the best for this recipe. Many kinds of Earl Grey already have spices mixed in. For an extra creamy taste, try the Vanilla Creme Earl Grey tea available here at californiateahouse.com
-Thai iced tea goes well with spicy foods. The milk will help neutralize the spicy oils so you aren't left with a burning feeling after you eat.
There are the obvious signs winter is over — snow melts, sunset after 6 p.m., and baseball season starts.
But here is what makes me think of the warmer seasons:
Open toed sandals,
Late night talks on the balcony,
Nature walks,
Sidewalk-chalkin’,
And switching from warm beverages, to cold ones.
My roommate is a big fan of sun tea, and since it’s her first year on her own, we were initially skeptical of her brewing abilities.
Turns out, it’s really easy. And yes, I’m sure most of you reading are this going, of course, it’s sun tea, its ridiculously easy to make! But please, remember, we are college undergraduates that survive largely on ramen and scraps we find around the house.
What you’ll need.
4 cups of cold water
5 teabags or 5 teaspoons of tealeaves
Large, very sterile glass container.
Instructions.
1. First, wash your container thoroughly, as the tea steeping occurs at the same temperature for bacterial growth.
2. Fill the container with 4 cups of cold water.
3. Add 5 teabags or 5 teaspoons of tealeaves, and secure lid tightly.
4. Put the container in direct sunlight for two hours.
5. Remove the tea bags/ strain tealeaves out.
6. Serve over ice and mix with sugar if desired.
7. Drink all tea within a few hours and discard whatever is left over.
Tips & warnings.
Wikihow.com recommends that you use caffeinated tea rather than herbal tea.
There is some controversy over the safety of sun tea, below is an excerpt from the website:
“What the CDC has said is that there is a theoretical risk of an increase of the bacteria commonly found in fresh water (Alcaligenes viscolactis) that has not shown itself clearly in real life, and it appears that this concern has been somewhat blown out of proportion due to internet information drift and the never-ending need for sensationalism about the potential for food poisoning.[2] What matters most is clean handling of the tea, as with anything you consume.” (wikihow.com/Make-Sun_tea)
So please, go sit on your balcony — lawn, nook, or whatever — sip on your favorite springtime beverage and enjoy the warmer temperatures. I know that's what I’ll be doing!
[Picture- my roommate and friend talking on our balcony last summer, good times!]
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