Oolong Tea…oh the possibilities!

oolongtea

Try Oolong Tea as an alternative to drinking sodas, store bought juices, etc. Oolong tea is another healthy variety of tea. It is also known as wulong (or wu long) tea. It is similar to green teas, oolong teas come from from the Camellia sinensis plant. Depending on the fermentation, it can either taste light or stronger in taste. Loose leaf oolong tea is full-bodied with a sweet aroma and is low in caffeine, one cup of oolong tea has 10-15% of the caffeine in a cup of coffee. Some health benefits are aiding in weight-loss, combating the aging of skin, preventing heart disease and cancer, reducing high blood pressure, strengthening teeth and prevent tooth decay, relieving physical and mental stress, treating skin problems such as eczema and rashes, improving brain power, lowering blood sugar levels and the treatment for diabetes patients. You can also use oolong as a non-toxic household cleaner, deodorizer, disinfectant, etc. I have several places I go for tea, but Teavana has a great selection of Oolong Teas. Visit http://www.teavana.com/tea-info/oolong-tea for more information… Enjoy! and Stay BEautiful!

Here are a couple of ideas you can try, but first remember to DRY your used tea leaves completely, otherwise they become moldy (and we don’t want that to happen!)

Deodorizer

Tea leaves are great to remove unpleasant smells. A bowl of dried tea leaves in the refrigerator will absorb odors better than a box of baking soda.

Similarly, a bowl of dried tea leaves in your closet will keep your clothes smelling fresh. So you don’t have to spend money on expensive toxins to keep your home clean!

If you have stinky shoes, try putting a few dried tea leaves in your shoes and leave them overnight. The tea leaves remove odor and dampness so you can start your day with a fresh pair of shoes.

Tea baths

Feeling tired and stressed out? A cup of tea is always a good way to recharge, but what about trying a tea bath!

Place the dried tea leaves in a tightly-woven mesh that’s completely lint free, like a  cheesecloth (not made of cheese) and tie the top. Then place it in your bath water. A tea bath makes your skin soft and the wonderful aroma will chase those cares away.

Insect repellent

You can also burn the tea leaves as a mosquito repellent. The sweet aroma of burning tea leaves is certainly a good alternative to the traditional toxic repellents.

So now you have no excuse for throwing out those wonderful tea leaves. But even if you don’t like these tips, the tea leaves can be composted to make rich, nutritious soil for your garden or house plants.

Enjoy and Stay BEautiful!

Jessica :)