Tomorrow we’re celebrating Earth Day, so it’s a great time to look at some unique and interesting ways that tea intersects with issues of sustainability.
According to this podcast from the University of Utah Health, generally tea production has a lower environmental footprint than coffee. “Unlike coffee, which often comes in single-use non-recyclable cups at coffee shops, tea typically involves less packaging waste, especially when brewed from loose leaves rather than individual tea bags.” Plus, tea cultivation typically requires less water than coffee production. Another reason to enjoy a cup of tea, guilt-free!
Here’s another idea for Earth Day: use old tea leaves as compost. Even discarded tea leaves carry a substantial amount of nutrients that can help give a needed, healthy boost to your favorite potted plant or that fickle rose bush in the garden. Think of it as do-it-yourself fertilizer that doesn’t take any extra effort on your part. You can also think of it as one more thing that won’t end up taking space in a landfill somewhere! Leftover water from brewing doesn’t have to go straight back down the drain. Instead, use it to water plants around the house or outside. It’s a small but easy way to get more use out of the water you use for tea.
When you’re not drinking tea yourself, why not brew a cup of Compost Tea for Mother Earth herself? This is a special concoction intended as a gardening and farming tool. Just 1/4 teaspoon of good Compost Tea has been shown to contain over a billion bacteria as well as several strands of fungi that are beneficial to plant growth. Good bacteria out-compete other harmful organisms and also improve the water-holding capacity of soil. Fungi help decompose old plant material and retain nutrients. It’s easy to make and the main ingredient is your very own heap of compost collected at home, which can be made up of many things, including old tea leaves. If your garden or your houseplants are looking particularly sad, give it a try!