Tea, Self-Care, and Helpful Hacks

Tea can be incorporated into many self-care practices in helping you find relaxation and peace. As with wabi sabi, the idea here is to take a moment to yourself and to be present in that moment. This article will discuss both individual and group activities to incorporate more self-care into your daily life.

Drinking Tea:

Kyle from The Cultured Cup views tea brewing as its own meditative process and opines that “The best cup of tea is the one you make yourself.” The process of tea brewing invokes mindfulness at every stage of the process. All five of your senses are invoked as your active presence is required.

You might choose to gather your tea-making essentials if you don’t already have a designated area for tea-making in your kitchen. You may find that watching and hearing the water as it boils to be its own form of ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response). Have you ever noticed that the water itself produces different sounds? When you pour cold water into a pot or kettle, there is a sloshing noise.

Then your heating element creates a slow quiet that eventually develops into a roaras tiny air bubbles form and pop. The sounds begin to quiet down again as the water gets closer to boiling, and eventually the steam vapor rises. This is largely based on temperature and the nature of water as it undergoes changes from a liquid to a gas and then back again. Steam vapor rises to the top and produces a wonderful mist. If you are using a stove, this vapor will become fragrant after you add in your tea and allow the tea to steep. Take in the aromatics and see what your nose picks up.

After steeping, you may notice a slight hissing sound as you pour your tea into a cup. Kettle users may prefer to steep their tea in their drinking cup, but the aromatic effect is delightful regardless of the method used. Notice the feel of your cup as it warms your hands before you bring it to your lips. As you take in your first few sips, notice the way the tea makes your mouth feel and the notes of flavor that you’re able to detect. Breathe in and embrace the parts of the tea that have coated your mouth. Exhale.

The tasting notes you experience will vary from cup to cup because the ratio of each tea ingredient is impossible to precisely maintain in a spoon. Our Mango Tango tea is a perfect example of this because it contains organic orange, pineapple, strawberry, and marigold pieces. Therefore, some cups may be more citrusy or fruity tasting than others in that you’ll never have the same cup across brews. Don’t toss your used tea leaves just yet! Used Mango Tango leaves can be added as a topping to your yogurt parfait or morning oatmeal.

Taken all together, the tea-making process culminates into a hydrating form of aromatherapy that is good for your mind and body.

Cooking/Baking with Tea:

If you’re not in the mood to drink tea, then consider baking with fresh or used tea leaves to create your own delicious treats. Some people may utilize their tea as part of a meat marinade or to steam fish. Milder proteins create more pronounced flavor in addition to other spices you may decide to use. You can experiment to see what works best for you. Don't know where to start? Browse our recipes.

Absorb Odors and Clean:

Sprinkle previously steeped tea leaves that have dried onto your carpet and let it rest for up to an hour before vacuuming for a natural way to deodorize your carpet. As a naturally absorbent material, lightly-roasted tea leaves can be used as a potpourri to help keep unwanted odors at bay.

Enhance Your Bath or Cosmetic Routine:

Noted for its calming and relaxing properties, soaking in Chamomile Comfort in your bath can help invigorate your skin. Those prone to irritated or sensitive skin may appreciate this herb in helping to reduce itchiness and reddening of the skin. Green tea powder is often an ingredient found within face masks, toners, and scrubs. Paired with some aloe vera and honey, green tea can be used for an easy DIY face mask that can enhance your complexion using natural ingredients. If you add some alcohol and mix it with tea, you can create a natural perfume that leaves a pleasant scent behind.

Tea Ceremony:

A fun group activity that involves self-care is offered using our Artisan Tea Table. Kyle incorporates self-care and mindfulness through a soothing tea ceremony offered only at The Cultured Cup. You and up to four others will experience a “tea spa” experience from a knowledgeable host.

Create with Tea:

Painting is a fun activity that can be done on your own or with a group. Tea is a natural pigment that can be used to stain, dye, or beautify your next art piece. Simply brew tea as you normally would. You can experiment with different steep times and water concentrations to get your desired color. Be sure to test how the tea looks on your canvas of choice.

If you want a thicker paste, try adding in flour or corn starch until you get the consistency you want. Hibiscus Ruby Red or our Baked Apple Almond tea can be used to create gorgeous various shades of red or pink. Black tea can be used to create cool gray, brown, and black shades. Turmeric Tranquility or Rooibos tea will produce a orange/red shade. The Fantôme de L'Opéra will get you a stunning blue. You can experiment with how colors come together when you layer them on top of each other to create different tones and hues.

Tea as a Gardening Agent:

Tea can help contribute to outdoor spaces in a green-friendly manner that doesn’t burden a landfill. Leftover black or chamomile tea leaves can be used as an anti-fungal gardening agent to keep pests and weeds away. Used in soil, tea leaves are a nitrogen- rich source that also improves drainage and soil structure overall. Used tea leaves can also be used to speed up the decomposition of compost and can help the roots of your plants retain water.