Tea and Coconuts
A great tea that I have made is one composed of strong black tea and cocunut milk. It creates a great and exotic flavor and the milk adds such a silky texture to the tea. I also like to make black tea a put a cinnamin stick in it. Great during the holidays!=)

Jeremiah Via, 15 and already a connoisseur of tea!

Aussie Style
In Australia a common tea or coffee custom is to bite off the diagonally opposite corners of an Arnott's Tim Tam and use it as a straw. Make sure to cram it in your mouth before the chocolate and biscuit disintegrates!

Veronica, Canberra Australia

Shortbread Cookies
I love making green tea shortbread cookies to go with my favorite tea, Stash's exotica champagne oolong.

Kelly

Reusable Tea Bottles
Every now and then I'll be out and Ill buy some inferior "iced tea" drink in a bottle. While None of them come close to a nice home brew of Stash Iced tea, I keep the bottles and re-use them!!! Place one tea bag per 12 ounce bottle (two if you really like the your tea strong) into the bottle, add your sweetener. The tea bag inside the bottle but the string dangles outside. Carefully fill bottle with boiling water (BE CAREFULL!!! Make sure the bottles have been sitting out at room temperature for some time) Let sit 2 hours till cooled down, screw cap on and put in refrigerator. WARNING: Placing bottles in freezer or refrigerator without allowing them to properly cool down can cause the bottles to break!!!!
12 ounce Snapple bottles work best!!!

hercules

Seaberry tea
I discovered a wonderful herb for a tea. Due to my work I often get my hands burned so I always keep a bottle of seaberry oil handy. A couple of years ago I planted seaberry in my garden so I can make my own oil, and one day it occurred to me to dry some leaves and make a seaberry tea. To say that I was pleasantly surprised would be a great understatement - I was blown away. Now I am drinking it every day and even came up with some cool recipes.

My favorite ice tea for a hot day:
1 tea spoon of dried seaberry leaves
1 tea spoon of dried mint leaves
2 cups of boiled water.
Let it brew for 10-15 min then strain and let it cool. Add 1 table spoon of honey, throw in some ice and enjoy it.

This fall I am going to plant more of it. This stuff is unbelievable.

Val Sherbin

Tea & Lemonade = Great Iced Tea
When I was younger and I lived in hot, humid Texas, my friends and I would sell homemade jewelry and lemonade during the summer. The lemonade didn't sell very well, so my mom (bless her) poured some plain black tea into it (make it with country time powder and make sure the amount of lemonade and tea is equal) to make this delicious, aromatic tea that tasted great on ice.

Gillian

Whipped Cream
When I need to treat myself, I absolutely LOVE a cup of strong hot tea with at least an inch or more of whipped cream on top. Not the least bit healthful, but delicious. Chai Spice, Double Spice Chai, Irish Creme....all work well. I brew it in a tall mug, leaving plenty of room at the top for the whipped cream, and just use supermarket aerosol whipped light cream.
Sip the hot tea through the layer of cool cream. Ooooooo.

Elaine

Eating Tea
I'm sure you all know what a great source of antioxidants green tea is. Well, you are wasting it if you don't eat the tea leaves. Sounds gross? It's actually very good, provided you use the best green tea. Many have a fairly bitter taste and I wonder just how "green" they really are. I use Yamamotoyama, especially the brown rice tea.

Michael Cooley

Eggnog Tea
I take one bag of Stash's Kashimiri Chai tea and mixed it with Vanilla Soy Milk, it gives a taste like Eggnog but low in fat and more nutritious. For the more adventurous add some Rum! Happy Holidays!!

Joann

Soothing, Cooling Iced Tea
Iced tea is THE only beverage to drink when eating Mexican or other hotly spiced foods. The same properties that bring such relief to sun(and other)burned skin are wonderfully soothing to the mouth after downing a basket of chips and salsa. Or Szechwan cuisine. Or Indian curries.

Margaritas or sangria? Pooh! Iced tea's the thing!

Marilyn K.

Onion Juice Tea
I was once president of The International Society for the Propagating of Free Onion Juice. It was a difficult society to explain, born out of the tiny theologically-oriented artistic movement known as Love Nouveau. In any case, we once held a tea party in which we served tea with (of course) onion juice in it. The amount of onion juice was really extremely little, but it did give an unforgettable shade of flavor to the tea. Not at all enjoyable, but unforgettable.

Mark DeBolt

Muffins
The next time you bake muffins, especially if you are adding dried fruit to them -- soak the fruit in strong tea (Earl Grey, Black, English Breakfast, even a fruit tea) and when they have plumped up nicely, add them to the recipe. Use the tea in place of any liquid that the recipe specifies -- you'll get moist, aromatic muffins to die for. (well, don't die, eat the muffins!!!)

Azar "ACE" Attura Bronx, NY

Morning Tea
When i was attending a local community college I worked for the school's writing center. As a member of the staff I was able to use the microwave and stuff there. So everyday I would come in a few minutes early and fill my mug up with water and microwave it until I got it as hot as I could and then added a Stash Mango Passionfruit tea bag to it. I let it set for a bit and then added a bit of sugar to it and off to class I went. The tea was refreshing in the morning and actually helped me stay awake for my early morning class.

Kaci

Chicken soup with Lemon Blossom Tea
Hello, When I make chicken soup I start the broth with lemon blossom tea from stash teas, it inhances the chicken broth, of course i use regular chicken broth too. The flavor tastes much better this way.

Robbilynne

Tea On Rice
When I was sick, my Japanese-American mother would feed me "tea on rice" -- green tea poured over sticky white rice, eaten like a soup, with red pickled ginger on the side. It is great for settling upset stomachs, getting food in you when you have no appetite. It was our version of chicken soup! Today, when I travel far from home, I bring a little green tea. It's good "comfort food."

Kim Cross

Broke
We were pretty broke several years ago and our grocery budget was stretched as tightly as three day old chicken. I read in an 80 year old cookbook that tea could be used to tenderize even the cheapest cuts of beef. It works! I use plain old black tea bags to prepare a pot of tea, then after it cools, I'll add it to a pot roast which I've just browned. The pot roast can be an inexpensive cut like chuck or shoulder roast. The roast simmers in the tea while it cooks and by adding a bit of black pepper and herbs, you can have the taste of London Broil for much less money. Even though I'm happy to say that our financial picture has improved greatly,I still cook roasts this way.

Melissa Malcolm

Stash & Stars
I have been a fan of your Chai Spice for many years, and shared it with the club at a Star Party at my house last November. I like to make up a big batch in the crock pot (really) so it is always warm and ready to serve. Your chai spice is one of few things in life that actually taste as good as it smells!

Anyway, what made me think of writing you is that last weekend we were at a star party up in the Sierra Nevada mountains, basically in the middle of nowhere, and guess what was brewing on the camp stove? Yep, Stash Chai Spice. The party hostess even showed me a teabag to prove it was Stash, "just like you make." The coffee sits untouched and everyone enjoys your great tea.

Barbara Woodward

Means of survival
As a means of survival in a world of mediocre restaurant tea makers, I ususally carry a Stash oolong with me, or a green. The water - by the time it reaches the table - is never boiling for a good cup of black, but sufficiantly hot enough for a more gentle brew. I ask for hot water, and enjoy my tea made just right.

Tea of Course
One of my role models was a Korean War hero who taught me that tea has been a civilizing influence by making people boil water. In primitive conditions, boiled water is the only safe water, and tea provides a semi-ceremonial way to reinforce this practice. He kept himself healthy in the war by emulating the Koreans' tea habit, and as an Eastern Oregon rancher, he amused himself sipping fresh tea while watching the other buckaroos trying to get the coffee pot to work.

I brew a teabag in ice water to make tap water palatable. Moroccan Mint Green is my favorite, and one bag is good for up to a quart of water over 4 hours brewing time without the bitterness usually associated with boiled tea. It is very mild and I find myself taking deep draughts to better enjoy the flavor. The new Chai Tea works nicely, too.

And lastly, I take a catnip tea bag with me if I'm meeting a lady who owns a cat. With character reference from a normally anti-social cat well, anything can happen!

Paul T. Mill

Cold Raspberry Tea
In the summertime I like to make cold raspberry tea by putting a tea bag at the bottom of the glass, filling it with ice, then cold water. If I'm in a "sweet" mood, I'll add a little sugar to it.

Jaime

Tea n Biscuits
The joy of dipping digestive biscuits into a cup of tea is unsurpassed. The only problem is that the biscuit soaks up the tea and your thirst can be unquenched. The remedy for this is simple; go and make another cuppa.

Tommy Kelch

Eggnog Tea
I take one bag of Stash's Kashimiri Chai tea and mixed it with Vanilla Soy Milk, it gives a taste like Eggnog but low in fat and more nutritious. For the more adventurous add some Rum! Happy Holidays!!

Joann

Mixers?
Don't know how strange it is.. but I love earl grey with green tea and herb tea (mainly the sleepy time varieties) with kahlua, milk, and french vanilla international coffee.

That usually hits the spot. Come to think of it.. thanks.. now I'm thirsty for it... seeyah!

LJS

Tree planting with Stash
When I graduated from university, I had a lot of trouble finding a job, and so I spent four summers tree-planting in Western Canada. One delicious thing I remember about the experience is the boxes of Stash tea the cooks always laid out in the mess tent for us. We'd boil pots of water over the wood fire in the airtight stove and drink all the varieties - Appl Cinnamon, Earl Grey, you name it - until late into the night, warming ourselves on chilly spring evenings.

Silvia Neuteboom

Mother's Persistence
Like many, it was my mother who introduced me to tea. I am often referred to as the ''Tea Lady'', and my reputation for making good tea stems from my mother being such a perfectionist. She told me this phrase every time she sent me into the kitchen: ''make sure its nice and brown''. My mother's persistence has paid off, as I have been told that my tea-making skills convinced a talent spotter to help my friend with his music career!

Dawn

Pearl tea
My mom used to fix me a wonderful tea when i was a child... she'd brew 1/2 a mug of strong tea using chamomile or some sort of "bedtime" tea... then she'd fill the mug up with hot milk and add a touch of honey.... now that i'm older if i need a quick sleep fix i brew up a batch of my mother's "pearl tea"... it soothes my body and my spirit..

tari simpson

my family tea custom!
I remember about 6 years ago, my family and I used to live in Iowa as my dad was going to medical school. We had this bike trail (green belt they called it), that we'd see these magnificently colored berries on, and soon found out they were sumak berries.

So one day, my mom had a great idea, and took a bucket with her walking, and had 5 gallons of sumack berry branches when she came home. We soaked it in a metal bowl for about 3 hours, and then drained it and added LOTS of sugar! I remember it was so good, my dad brought about 7 medical students home, and collegues, over and all of us enjoyed it...after that, we made several gallons of natural Sumak Tea.

Tea and Cough Drops
When I'm coming down with a cold, I drink cups of Earl Grey tea with a honey-lemon cough drop in each cup. The cough drop sweetens the tea and helps those nasal passages. A great pick-me-up for a cold.

JD from SC and Katie A.

Tea and the Bandstand
Hello Stash Tea-I don't know if you are aware of this, but your licorice spice tea is the best tea on the market for singers! I am a professional jazz singer, and on the jazz faculty of New School University as well, and I always recommend licorice spice tea to my fellow singers and students.

The digestive properties of the licorice and cleansing properties of the other spices clear away any mucus that may irritate the vocal cords, and leave the throat feeling soothed and clean.

When I am sick, and I have a gig, I always keep a big mug of licorice spice tea on the bandstand!. (They're not going to like hearing this, but, in my book, it even beats Traditional Medicinals Throatcoat!!)I am putting in my order today for more!

Thanks, and please don't ever go out of business!

Amy London/ New York City

Ear Health
My friend and i use chamomile tea or peppermint tea to clean out our ears on a cotton bud (q-tip). We find it works wonderfully and smells divine.

unknown

The "Eyes" Have It!
Several people commented on how well used tea bags soothed red, irritated eyes and puffy eyelids. I would like to add that if you put your used tea bags in the refrigerator before you put them on your eyes it works much better and feels wonderful. Most of my used tea bags go to the refrigerator just in case. With the added bonus that they absorb odors and keep the refrigerator smelling good.

Donna Judge,
Flowery Branch, Ga.

Mint Tea & a Bath
When I have a bad headache, I'll dim the lights and put a few mint teabags in a hot bath. I'll let them soak for a while, and I'll put two of the wet teabags on my eyes/forehead/temples. It works!

Kelly

Soothing Sleep & No Wrinkles
I live in Montana,USA. I must tell you your Stash tea is the best. I do not sleep well at all and i use bothe the sandman pm tea and the chamomile tea to help me get off to a good nights sleep. These two are especially great for dunking into your hot water but you can also after your tea is gone you put the still yet warm tea bags onto your shut eyes to reduce any wrinkles or swelling.

Caroline Jane Dyer

Common Cold
I lived in a house with very unreliable heat in college, and my roommates and I spent months exchanging colds and recuperating. The best (and much cheaper than over the counter) remedy would be fresh brewed hot tea, a generous helping of honey, and a shot of bourbon. Oddly enough, ingredients we always had in the house.

By Dave

Tea as Medicine
At our house, Licorice Spice tea is "Sore Throat Tea" because the licorice coats the back of the throat and makes it feel less sore. The steam from the tea also helps to clear nasal passages.

Elizabeth.

Nursing Pain
After I gave birth to my daughter, I had a terrible time nursing her. I was extremely sore and so I poured over as many books as I could, trying to find a suitable remedy. Everyone had a different suggestion, but none of them really worked. Finally, my sister suggested that I use black tea as a hot compress 2-4 times a day, being careful to wash the area before nursing. Wow! What a difference it made! Now I suggest it to all my first-time-mother-friends

Sincerely, Emily

Pink Eye Relief
I get horrible cases of conjunctivitis (pink eye) to the point where I cannot even open my eyes they hurt so much. My friend in Argentina, Gerardo, couldn't stand to see me suffer, so he made a cup of hot tea. When it had cooled down enough, he put some in an eye cup and had me suction it to my face, tilt my head back, and blink my eye a few times. I cannot express my relief that the burning stopped and I could see once again! I now use this remedy every time I come down with pink eye.

Black Currant Tea "Foot Relief"
I use a cup a day for my feet and ankle swelling, and Arthritis, it works for me. Even "Trey" my dog loves it!!

Joyce

Medicinal Uses
Now, I'm a serious tea drinker (English, sweet, and milky). I've been using tea all my life for eyes (black tea tannins stop a sty before it develops and draws out impurities as with eyes that feel tired and granular). I've "antiqued" fabrics with it for theater. But, the most amazing "cure" I've seen with black tea is this (and no one's mentioned it so far that I've seen): I used to work in Veterinary medicine. My first week required me to bring a cat up from post-op to go home. Well, the cat was still coming off ketamin (a hallucinogenic-type anesthesia) and though I had her "scruffed" properly, she managed to twist around in my hand as though she were double-jointed, and sink her teeth into my hands several times before I dropped her. I felt so foolish holding on as long as I did, but I worried more about her than myself. My hands gushed blood and I used a nail brush to scrub the bites out with an iodine based solution. Still, my hands swelled and fevered painfully for many days. One day I was visiting my English girlfriend who brewed a pot of good, strong English tea. Once I got my cup, I remembered the drawing qualites of tea tannins and placed the warm bags on my hands. Within 20 minutes, most of the swelling and redness had disappeared from my hands and there was a major reduction in pain. If anything could convince me of the medicinal qualities of tea, that did it.

By Lara Chandler

Dust mites
My younger brother suffers from dust mite allergy, and our doctor told my mother than the tannin in tea kills dust mites. When he had an attack, Mum would wash his face in tea and give him a cuppa, and he would be right as rain.

By Anita Jaensch

Stopper it up
Whenever anyone in my family gets the occasional bout of diarrahea, a cup of black tea (no sweeteners added) does the trick! No more diarrhea.

A.Miller

Bug Bites
I am allergic to ant bites to the extreme. Faster, better, more convenient than a trip to the emergency room, is a wet tea bag on the bite. I'm sure it would work on any insect bite! Real handy for camping trips and cutting the grass. Provides instant relief.

Suzanne Rumsey

Sleeping Help
I found out that Chamomile tea was really relaxing for sleep etc...and so when my baby was born in 1998, I made it a point to drink Chamomile tea at night a bit before it was time for him to go to sleep and so as he nursed, he got the Chamomile in his milk and he'd be out in no time! As he got older and was drinking out of a cup, he also wanted to drink Tea like Mommy and Daddy did. So that is a nice habit to have... and helps him relax for sleep!

Also, I had never heard of Chai tea until a few years ago, and then finally had an opportunity to try some at a local Indian restaurant. It was delicious. Well, I saw some recipes around in various books and articles and none seemed to duplicate the taste I had experienced at the restaurant. Then, one day at the store, I saw Stash Chai tea and I thought, well, I'll just try this - no messing around with trying to figure out the flavors. Imagine my surprise when the taste was as rich and as smooth as what I remembered tasting at the restaurant. Hmmmmmmm could it be their secret is Stash?

Finally, I read that certain spices like pepper, cloves etc. repel ants. Then I realized that Chai tea has both of those plus others. I brewed up a cuppa Chai tea, and then dragged the wet tea bag around on my counter top and let the counter air dry, and left the tea bag sitting on the counter overnight. Next day - no ants! And they don't come back for a good long while, at least until the Chai spice smell wears off apparently. (and I do not like using toxic smelly pesticides!). So it is easy to re-do for other bug problems...

So there you go. I think I am forgetting another tea trick but oh well I can come back and write again.

Julia in Kansas

Wisdom Teeth Extraction
After my daughter had her wisdom teeth out, my dentist recommended using cold wet tea bags immediately on the stitches. The tannins helped to stop the bleeding. Well, it totally stopped the bleeding!!

Christina Wippler

Singing with tea
I didn't have time to read all of the list of uses, but among the ones I could find, I didn't see mine. I'm 17 years old, and been a singer my whole life it seems. I joined an actual choir when I was in fifth grade, and have been in my school choirs ever since. When singing gets as important to you as it is to me, you try all different ways to get rid of a sore throat. The best way I've found so far to do that is 1) LEAVE OUT THE LEMON!!!! The citric acid of the fruit only aggravates a sore throat, making it worse. Just boil up a nice cup of tea (any tea will do) and add one or two tbs of honey. At least one or two days later, that sore throat should be gone!

Raven MacBride

Chickenpox and tea
When I was small, my mother used tea bags for a variety of things. The one I remember most was a freshly boiled tea bag on my chicken pox. She would let it cool enough so it wouldn't scald my skin, and she would lay a tea bag on each little mark. She also ran a warm bath and threw in a couple of gallon size bags to let me soak when they got really bad. I experimented over the years and found that they also work wonders on any kind of bug bite or sting.

Mouth sore cure using tea
When I get mouth sores inside, I drink alot of tea and you can also put a used tea bag inside on the sore. Repeat as needed

Erin

Chamomile Tea Eye Soother
I am a tea drinker, mostly herb teas, chamomile tea is my favorite. It is useful in more ways than one. I had an eye infection and saw my eye speialist. He advied me to use chamomile tea. You can brew the tea bags, wait till they cool a bit then place over your eyes or take a clean cloth and dip it in the tea. This soothes and heals.

Monica Reinkober

Camomile tea nasal decongestant
Well this definitely fits the bill as not your typical use of tea. Our pediatrician recommended chamomile tea with sugar as a thickener as a natural nasal decongestant for our son. The chamomile tea is natural and harmless. It's anti-inflammatory properties calms the irritated passages. The sugar is merely a thickener so it doesn't run out right away. We make the tea, stir in the sugar and place a few dropperfuls into the nostrils to ease the discomfort.

M. Patrick

Iced Tea Bags
After each use of a tea bag, (Stash English Breakfast is my favorite) collect it and store it in a cool place. When you have enough (it would vary depending on the size of the ice tray) fill up an ice cube tray with hot warm water and submerge the used bags in each square. When you need to ice down a bump or a bruise, just apply one of the ready made 'tea' soaked ice cubes (wrapped with a soft towel) on the spot and it will soothe ordinary bruises and keep them from turning darker.

Houry A. Der Simonian

Uses for tea
A hot tea bag (black tea works best) applied to your eyes will help get rid of a sty. Use water as hot as possible without burning and leave it on your eye until the bag cools down. Usually, it only takes 2-3 of these treatments to be rid of those painful sties. I love your teas!!

Beth :-)

Catnip and fennel
I have three sons and my middle had the worst colic as a baby. A lady in the Dr.'s waiting room overheard me fussing with my baby and said to go out and buy catnip tea and add fennel (you can buy them already mixed). I gave this to my baby and within 15 mins he was calm and quiet. Such a wonder~!

I use Chamomile tea to aid sleeping at night. It is better than the drugs the Dr. offered and no drugged feeling in the morning. Add a little catnip to this and some peppermint and you have a wonderful stomach 'calmer' and it helps you relax too. Which we all know that if we are calm our stomachs feel better quicker.

Faith Fidler

Relaxing with tea
I have 3 young children between the ages of 3 and 6, so needless to say my days are filled with stress and loud voices. Well, when I get to the point of near eruption I make myself a cup of tea and hide in a corner with a good book for about 15 minutes. This really helps to ease the tension and to calm my nerves. There is no pill in the world that can make that big of a difference in that little bit of time.

Try it, it really does work.

Juanita Hoffman

A Peppermint Prescription
My sister has problems with her digestive system and her doctor prescribed a muscle relaxer. After reading that peppermint calms and relaxes the stomach she tried it out and now uses a strong brew of peppermint tea instead of the prescription drug recommended by her doctor. She says that it works just as well if not better - and no side effects!

Millicent B. Herman

A Real Shiner
When my daughter Kara was 9 months old, she fell and got a real shiner of a black eye. To soothe the painful and discolored area, I placed warm already been used China Black tea bags on the affected area. Not only did it take away the discomfort, but I believe that it also drew out the heavy discoloration and helped to heal the injury quicker than it would have healed on its own.

Annie

Chamomile and Colic
My daughter Kara was very colicky as a young baby. The only two things that relieved her colic were going to a chiropractor (who uses energy therapy as well as traditional chiropractic) from the ripe old age of 10 days and drinking several bottles of chamomile tea a day. I even mixed the chamomile tea with her Nutramigen (formula for colicky babies) when she was really in a bad way.

Annie

Stop Bleeding
Tea, plain-old-cheap black tea, will do to stop bleeding and to take the redness out of bloodshot-eyes. The tannic acid causes vasoconstriction, hence the effect. I had the opportunity to personally test this out, after I bit my cheek enough to cause copious belleding, swallowed lots, became sick to my stomach in public...finally moistened a tea bag, set it in my cheek, and the bleeding subsided within minutes, that had been been going on at that point for over 4 hours!

RL

Tea Instead of Coffee
I did not find this in your list of tea uses but here's another. My wife and I recently returned from her stay in a Hospital where she was being treated for an immune disorder caused by a reaction to an antibiotic. In addition to the physical problems she developed, she had also become allergic to too many food items to mention. Since one of her allergies was to coffee, in its stead she received a daily Chamomile Tea Enema.

Andy C.

Arkansas

Soothing Shot Pain
When my baby had his shots one of the nurses recommended putting teabags over the injection site. At first I used black teabags but I found the next time that the green tea bags worked much better. Evidently due to the more potent tannins. I wet a tea bag, I even took them to the Doctors office with me and an ace bandage to hold it in place. As soon as she injected the site I put the bag on and the bandage. My baby was soothed in seconds and there was no swelling or knot as before. I use them every time now, it works wonderfully.

Lee Ann Newton

Loquat Leaf Tea
My mother is from an Armenian community in Jerusalem. She told me that her family used to make a tea from the leaves of the loquat (spelling?) tree. This brew was usually made for those suffering from pain in there kidneys which is exactly why she made it for me, and the pain subsided. This tea has a beautiful pink hue, and a subtle sweetness unlike any other herbal tea I've tried. Just boil one whole leaf in about 3 cups of water.It's a great hot tea to enjoy during the Summer.

Armen Chakmakian

Glendale, CA

Tea and Warts
To heal plantar warts, soak a black tea bag in hot water, and then place the damp bag on the wart itself for fifteen minutes once or twice a day. The tannic acid is just as good at killing the wart as the acids in various over-the-counter wart removers!

Chamomile and CRAMPS!!
Ladies, if you suffer from monthly cramps, moodiness, etc. Chamomile is just the thing. I drink it whenever that time of the month is upon me. It really works. Trust me!! Also as some of the other posts mentioned, it's good for stomach upset, such as gas... Peppermint works very well for nausia, especially due to morning sickness... It also works for head aches, although sometimes you might have to drink several cups because for me,at least, sometimes head aches tend to come back after a while.

I also find chamomile to be a comfort drink when I am upset about something.

Michelle Thomas

Dental Procedures
I was a dental assistant for 20 years and some of our patients used a moist tea bag to help coagulate blood after extraction of teeth. They would bite down on it like you would gause until we could see them....I do not know why it works but it does.

Carleen Schult

Soothe the eyes, soothe the skin
I've always found warm or icy teabags (used) soothing on my eyes. A couple of years ago I developed an infection called "pink eye" and it was recommended that in addition to my eyedrops I place hot compresses on my eyes several times a day. The nurse suggested that just-brewed teabags--still hot--make ideal compresses. It really helped!

I've also found that plain tea kept cold in the 'fridge (we always have some for iced tea) is very soothing for sunburn. I pour the cold tea into a bowl and dip a clean wash cloth into it and gently pat the affected areas. Instant relief!

But mostly, the tea goes into my mouth. After a recent trip to England, my consumption of hot tea (with milk, no sugar) has definitely increased. I especially like your decaffeinated English Breakfast tea.

Marjorie

Skin art, medicine, and drinking
I have several things I use tea for:

Assam: is GREAT for mixing with my henna.. the tannin properties are great.. I use the henna for skin art.

Peppermint: When I have a migraine, or an upset stomach this is so calming and relaxing..

The rest.. I just LOVE to drink hot or cold, I LOVE my tea....

Sue

The Magic of Camomile
I was in Croatia for two years and went to a dentist there who was a remarkably handsome man, and a wonderful dentist, too. I had to have two wisdom teeth removed, one of which was so deeply impacted it took two dentists to get it out. Anyway, this dentist was a great believer in Camomile tea for post-surgery therapy. He called me several times after the operation to make sure I was remembering the Camomile. Now I get a surge of emotion whenever I see Camomile tea and do believe it has great soothing qualities.

Margaret Lee
New York, NY

One more remedy from tea bags
Drip a tea bag in boiling water, squeeze out extra moisture and allow to cool to a comfortable skin temperature. Then, place it on a fever blister (those nasty external cankor sores) to help dry it up and promote healing. Unlike salves that keep a sore soft and do not promote scabbing, a tea bag draws the infection out. I had a doctor in Florida suggest it over 30 years ago while I was vacationing with my family. I have always remembered what a simple, effective remedy it was and wanted to pass it on.

Linda G.
Cincinnati, OH

Taking the ouch out of bee stings.
When I was a child each summer we would have family reunions at a cousin's lake cabin and invaribly one of us kids would get stung. As most of the adults were tea drinkers there was always a supply of used tea bags to place on the sting to bring the swelling down and ease the pain.

Now, 35 years later, my husband and I have a resort and use the same remedy for our guests!

Lynette McLean
Highlands Resort
Guerneville, CA

Help for Poison Ivy
I had a severe case of poison ivy on my face, of all places! My eyes were almost swollen shut. I put wet tea bags on both eyes and took a nap. When I woke up, almost all the swelling in my eyes was gone. I promise you, it really worked!

Linda H.
McLeod, TX.

Tea ideas passed down
When I was growing up I lived with my Grandmother who would always use leftover tea and tea leaves on her plants indoors and outdoors. The plants love it.

If ever I had a small infection in my eyes she would tell me to wipe my eyes with a piece of cottonwool soaked in tea or a used tea bag.

I still do these things myself and find the tea works great on my cats if they get an eye infection.

Tereza. CA.

Whoopie Tea!
My wife and I are big fans of Stash "Triple Ginseng" tea. I've been a fan of ginseng for years and was delighted to see the Stash company variety in the store. On the package, it says ginseng "enhances performance under stress" or something like that.

Well, my wife and I have found this to be quite true. We very much enjoy a cup of triple ginseng, just before retiring to our room to practice the finer points of marriage (hint-hint).

Our suggestion to all couples out there...try it.

The owner of a local Chinese grocery told me one time that ginseng will "help keep you warm in the winter." Now, I know what he meant.

Mike & Christa

Jet Lag
I first discovered Stash teas several years ago on a trip to Anaheim. I was there for a computer users group symposium, which generally for me meant several days immersion in shop talk with my colleagues from all over. This was NOT the time for jet lag; I needed (and wanted) to be awake and alert for 18 hours a day to take advantage of this gathering. Unfortunately, the cross-country flight left me with vicious headaches and generally feeling lousy. The hotel provided coffee, tea, and juice at our break times, and fortunately for me, the teas were Stash. The Stash chamomile is the best I have ever found for jet lag, overwork, and aggravation. I recommend it to all my friends & co-workers as a gentle antidote to unhappy heads & stomachs.

Nora N.

Inside Relief
I know this sounds really strange but I like to mix up peppermint tea and mandarin tea. It tastes really good and it works really well on upset tummies, cramps, diarrhea, and overall discomfort.

*sarah*

Hot Tea Spoken Here
As a child, I was an on-again off-again tea drinker. I spent 3 weeks in Russia and since then I can't leave the stuff alone. It is addicting. I have a travel mug designated for Stash tea that I can easily take on my morning commute (which I do almost religiously). I can't sleep at night without my tea. If I am having a sleepless night, which is often, I get up and make a cup of hot tea, usually chamomile or peppermint. I then drink it as hot as I can take it. I love the feeling of warm going down. I usually quickly relax and am asleep before I can take care of my mug. It works much better than counting sheep. I usually loose my place around 100. I would have many restless nights without my Stash.

Sarah M.
Flint, MI

Sweet Tea
In the summer - on hot days - our dog (who was raised down south) begs for sweet tea!! We also have a potbelly pig who also LOVES sweet tea!! Teas also work all of the same health Miracles on animals as they do on people!!

Also - when we moved here - we had an almost dead 100 year old tree in our front yard - it wasn't getting enough water - but we poured ALL of our leftover sweet tea on this tree and it flourished!! Not only did it come back to life, but it began growing!!!

Talking to plant experts - the sugar acts as extra energy for plants - as well as people! We've since had our roof re-done so that the rain water now pours directly into the trees roots.

Kirk S.

Tea and Wisdom Teeth
Ouch. The place where my wisdom teeth used to be is awfully sore. Do not fret--a bag of Stash Tea applied to the painful area is just the ticket. I will feel better in a moment.

A.C.

Tea and Colds
My recipe is plain and ordinary-but does wonders for the common cold.

1 serving of steeped tea, for this I usually use lemon, chamomile, or mint.

2-3 heaping tbsps of honey, depending on how sweet you like it.

Juice of about 1/3 of a fresh lemon

simply mix together.

Tea and Memories
When I was a small child and would end up sick, my mom and babysitter would always give me tea and toast. Whenever I have a cup of tea it brings back the soothing memories of the "comfort" delivered by the cup of tea with just a few drops of milk added. My babysitter was a devout tea drinker and I love brewing my suntea with tropical flavors.

Lori in CA

Peppermint Tea and Migraines
I have suffered from migraine headaches since I was a child, and nothing makes me feel better than a cup of peppermint tea. It settles my stomach, and the aromatherapy of peppermint helps to relieve the pain. So next time you are feeling under the weather, try a cup of peppermint tea - it will definitely lift your spirits!

Dana

Tea and Stings
Wet tea bags placed on "sea nettle" (stinging jellyfish) injuries really help with the pain and with the healing.

In addition to helping to heal sea nettle bites, I have used tea for:

1. Soothing sore gums due to cutting teeth or extractions: Make strong tea and hold it in your mouth for a minute several times a day.
2. For WHATEVER ails you: One mug of strong tea with a tablespoon of honey, a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice, and a jigger of Irish whiskey.

Tea and Canker Sores
Well... I read your site 3 times because I simply could not believe no one had mentioned my uses for used tea bags.

I have terrible trouble with acid reflux, and get canker sores in the back of my mouth from the stomach acid. The best thing I have found to ease the pain (and also the cheapest) is to suck on a chilled, used, black tea bag. The tannin cleanses and numbs the sores, allowing me to eat whatever I please with no pain.

The same chilled tea bags also work wonders on sunburn, mosquito bites, paper cuts... you name it. I have not yet run into a skin irritation that could not be helped by the application of a tea bag.

S.E.M.S. Hampton, VA

Tea and Breastfeeding
As a Breastfeeding Consultant for the young mothers at our hospital, I deal with complaints of sore nipples all the time, one of the best remedies is for Mom to first make a cup of hot tea to sip while she nurses and then place the used tea bags on her nipples to help with the soreness. Black tea seems to work the best because of the tannic acid but some of my moms only drink herbal and that seems to work for them too. I know that taking the time to brew the tea is part of the relaxation of breastfeeding and to this day, even though my youngest is 16 y/o, I still get that warm comfortable feeling when I pour that first early cup of tea.

Breastfeeding Builds Better Babies...

Faith DeWald-Hammel, RNC

Throat Specialist RX for Strep Throat
Several years ago, during a severe ice storm, my sister had strep throat & couldn't get out to go to her Throat-Specialist, so she called him. He told her not to get out on the streets, because it was too dangerous, and that she could doctor it herself at home.

Here's what he told her to do: Place 4 or 5 regular sized bags of black tea (not decaffeinated) into a coffee cup. Pour boiling water over bags, & let sit until it becomes cloudy & thick looking. Do not sweeten or add any other ingredient. Keep tea warm (LEAVE TEA BAGS IN CUP)---gargle with this extremely strong tea when throat hurts, itches, or coughing begins. The tannic acid in the strong tea coats the throat, stopping the pain & itch, & at the same time heals the strep throat, usually within 24 to 48 hours. Most of my family & friends use this remedy. Everyone I know that uses this "recipe" swears by it. One of my neices is a nurse at a large hospital--she said her fellow nurses use this remedy all the time.

One little hint--if you're like me, & don't like the bitterness of the strong tea, after tea is as strong as you think it will get, wring out the bags into the cup & pour the tea into a spray bottle. Then when you need to use it, just heat til warm, & spray into back of throat--this misses most of your taste buds. For adults I would use at least 5 sprays, & children about 3 sprays. When my son was 3 years old & would start getting a sore throat, he'd screw up his face & say, "My throat hurts. Fix me some tea, Momma". Come to think of it, at 15 years of age, he's still doing the same thing. It really does work, if you follow the directions exactly.

Donna Carnall

Tea for Tired Eyes
If my eyes are tired and/or hurting, I take a warm tea bag and rub my eyes with it. For some reason, that seems to sooth them.

Kathy in Essington, PA

Tea for Sunburns
Tea is great to use for sunburns. I use a regular iced tea blend. You put about 10-15 tea bags in a hot bath and let them steep in the water. Then lay your sunburnt body in the warm bath and the tea somehow helps take the burn away from your sunburn! I don't know the science behind this but it does work, I have recommended to lots of people and they all have said that a tea bath has worked to reduce the pain associated with fresh sunburned skin.

Ashley in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Chamomile as Conditioner
I put some strongly brewed chamomile tea that I allow to cool in a spray bottle and spray my hair with it. It helps soften and moisturize your hair. Remember to make a new batch of tea every two to three days. You can also add a few drops of conditioner to the bottle, shake it up and make your own leave in spray conditioner.

Abby Marie

Mint tea
I like to use mint tea to wash my face with. It works like toner and smells pretty nice. I also use a few bags like bath sachets sometimes.

Talia

Bathing with Tea
I lived through the terrible earthquake in Kobe, Japan, in January of 1995. My apartment building was badly damaged but still upright, however, there was no heat, electricity, or water. I remained there for three days before some of the train tracks were repaired to enable me to leave town. Fortunately, I had cans of liquid oolong tea in the apartment (they are commonly sold that way in soda machines and grocery stores). By sponge bathing myself with the tea each day, I was able to stay clean and fresh. My hair, too, felt soft and clean! I was told much later by a chemist that certain chemicals in the tea bind with fats and oils and help wash them away. Since the earthquake, I've often used tea to wash my hands when soap has not been nearby. Hands don't feel sticky and it makes them smell just fine.

Bruce Feldman

Eye Medicine
Can't stay married for 28 years without having been reduced to tears on occasion. I am proud to say that friends, family, neighbors, etc., can never tell when I have been a ball bag the night before because I use my left over tea bags to bathe my eyes with. Just take any used tea bags, moisten them, place on eyes and let them bide a while. This trick really works.

P.S. If you've been a real watering pot you may need to reapply!

P.S.S. My husband is a real sweetie "most of the time."

Sincerely,KLT

Chamomile for hair
I was surprised that I didn't see this one on the list already. My hairstylist told me once to use chamomile every so often for my hair when it gets dry. At first I was afraid to do it for two reasons: 1) my hair is blond and I thought it would get discolored and 2) the acid in tea might dry my hair out even more. Not so, she assured me. Now, at least once a month (especially when I get chemical build up on my hair), I make a pitcher of chamomile and let it cool off a bit. Usually I soak my hair in it after a shower and use it as a leave-in conditioner. Sometimes when I just want a hint of that wonderful aroma I'll use chamomile as a rinse. It works great - my hair has never been healthier!

Oh, and I just wanted to thank the person who mentioned that they put chai tea bag wrapper in their books for the aroma. Chai is my absolute favorite for the taste AND the smell. That was a wonderful recommendation!

Brandie

Car Freshener
I tape a fresh tea bag to the vent on the dashboard of my car. That way, when I turn on the heat or AC, I can smell the sweet aroma. The smell also lingers for a long time after the tea bag comes off. So far, I have only used black tea, but I am sure the fruit teas would be great to use!

Rachel Stearns

Hot Tea Bath
Well I use a ginger tea type and add it to my hot baths, it helps detoxify my body from colds and such. You can also use your favorite tea and add it to 2-3 tablespoons honey, a little water to make it runny and 2 tablespoons rice powder (just add rice in your blender and chop for a minute, until fine powder) this is a fantastic body scrub and polish, when taking a bath or shower, enjoy and relax. : )

Clinton Gregory

Earl Grey Scent
Regarding the wish for Earl Grey sachets or dryer sheets, save your delicious Stash Earl Grey tea bags for your tea cup. That scent comes from Bergamot. Locate some good quality Bergamot essential oil to use in a diffuser. That way you can fill your home with the scent of Earl Grey tea without wasting the tea bags.

Theresa Kiihn

Tea Potpourri
Instead of going out and buying expensive potpourri, I mix together left over tea ( usually Earl Gray or Oolong), orange peels,and cloves, and boil them on the kitchen stove. The fragrance makes the house smell wonderful!!

Keisha Y. Baldwin

Tea and sunburn
Growing up in Arizona before sunscreen, sunburn was an unfortunate way of life. My mom learned that wiping used teabags over the sunburned skin helped to relieve the pain and heal the burn more quickly...apparently the tannic acid helps to neutralize the burn.

Ann

Tea Removes Odors
My Best Vietnamese friend taught me an extension to the things others have mentioned: Pour some tea over your hands after eating. The tea is able to remove all odors from your fingers, and leaves them smelling great. Nothing else seems to remove fish odors so well.

Geno

Sweating Palms
Let your hands soak in a plate of strongly brewed tea after the liquid has cooled. It will stop your excessive palm sweating! It is likely due to the tannic acid effects.

Vince

Take Earl Grey to bed with you
Dear Stash Tea Folks, I love the smell of the earl Grey tea bags, and I thought to myself how great it would be if my sheets could smell just like them. So I put an Earl Grey tea bag in a clean white sock and tossed it in the dryer with my sheets to dry. Guess what? It didn't work. Why don't you make Earl Grey sachet or dryer sheets to throw in with sheets and towels? Let me know how this idea strikes you. Your ad for it could read: "Take Earl Grey to bed with you..." I know, it's real silly, but I used to be in advertising and I can't help it. Good night.

Susan Herner

Chamomile Bath
I was recently watching a show on PBS on herbal cures. They were talking about chamomile. One of their hints was to add 4 tea bags to your bath water stream and soak. It really works.

Judy Sanderson

Chamomile for Baby
My grandmother believed chamomile tea would soothe a colicky baby's tummy. She would give a bottle of sweetened chamomile tea to the baby. The upset tummy would be gone. I love your chamomile....the fragrance is wonderful and soothing.

Mary M.

Beauty Secret
Several years ago I had a "makeover" with a Dallas area model. One of her "beauty secrets" was a facial tonic made from strong black tea and witch hazel. I think the tea soothed and lightly tinted the skin. I still make this concoction from time to time using black Stash teas.

Kathleen M., St. Louis

Tea bath.
Tea is an astringent. Do your feet smell? Wash them for 20 mins or more in a bowl of hot tea, (the cheapest, roughest kind, nothing fancy or scented) once a day for three days, then once a week thereafter. I find that a bowl of hot tea for my feet in front of the PC and a glass (bottle) of wine (internal use only) is sufficient excuse for demanding to be left undisturbed. (My trainers left by the door help). I have found that the bathing of parts suffering from sweat rash with tea helps too.

Chamomile Steamer
Hi! One thing I do is, every morning, I sit on my porch in my soft, cushioned bench and have a cup of peppermint tea and a slice of cake. The peppermint helps me to wake up while I watch the sunrise. I also do the same thing in the evening with chamomile tea and several cookies to help me unwind. Another thing I do with chamomile tea is have an herbal facial steam. First, I boil about 3 or 4 cups of water and pour it into a large bowl. Then, let it sit for around 5 minutes. After that, rip open 1 bag of chamomile tea per cup of water, and empty the contents into the bowl. Next, you can put a towel over your head, bend over the bowl so your head is 6 inches away from the bowl, letting little steam escape, and enjoy for 15 minutes.

Briana M., Pennsylvania

Tea and Gray-haired Scots
My Scottish Biology professor used to tell the class about how it was a standard procedure for the "graying" men (in the good old days) to dye their head with strong tea. Apparently it makes a good hair rinse (tannic acid must lower the pH) and cuts the shampoo's alkalinity. As a bonus it covers gray quite well and doesn't cost like using hair dye. I've used it as a hair rinse myself (I already have brown hair) and I find it feels soothing on my skin.

J SHERST

Tea and Freckles
Dear Stash people,

This will sound utterly insane, but it actually works. I'm a redhead with freckles, and I mean FRECKLES! They get really bad in the summer and because I'm so fair complected I can't really get a good tan to even them out and make them less apparent.

A friend of mind suggested that I take an old cloth and soak it in strong brewed tea and leave it over my face for several minutes each day. This lightly "tans" my face without the hassle of sunburn and risk of skin cancer! It doesn't make the freckles disappear but it does reduce their appearance.

Rhiannon

Tea and Feet
Use a chilled pitcher of peppermint tea as a foot soak. It will invigorate hot, tired feet.

Karen G.
Coquitlam, BC

Tea and Brown Hair
Hello!

Get this. I know it may not sound too odd but it does work (for a while). I used green tea to die my brown hair slightly red. What I mean by "for a while" is that the next day I had physical education (I'm still in Jr. High, okay!) and the red tinge was lost.

Matthew C.

Tea and Soothing Eyes
I actually use "spent" chamomile tea bags for a nightly/morning eye soother. I put the teabags in the freezer until they are almost solid (about 10 minutes). after my husband and I are finished drinking our tea, I take the teabags out of the freezer and put them on my eyes. The coolness and the soothing properties of the chamomile flowers in the tea bags really help undereye puffiness and just overall tiredness of the eyes. It's a good way to get the most for your money and it's all natural.

steph

Mint Tea and Cool Skin
Hi! Strong mint tea is a great remedy for sunburn. Brew it, put it on a compress, apply to sunburned area, and breathe a sigh of relief because your poor red skin feels cool again.

Lyn Belisle in San Antonio

Tea and Split Nails
Here's a hint for the woman with long nails...

You can use tea bags to repair split nails. All you have to do is take the tea out of your bag and clip the bag to whatever shape you need. Apply to nail with clear nail polish. This will make for strong nails.

Lisa S.

Tea and Henna
This week, I used an infusion of cheap Assam tea, ginger and chamomile added to henna to dye my hair. I makes the whole process smell lovely and adds more complexity to the normal henna color.

Tea for Eye Infections
I used warm tea bags on a stray cat that had an eye infection and the eye infection seemed to clear up. Everytime I had a cup of tea I would squeeze the tea bag then rub them on the cat's eyes (if the cat allows you). This cat seemed to like it.

Kathy in Essington, PA

Healing a Sick Dog..with Green Tea..
I had a very sick dog...that I had picked up from the pound.
It wouldn't touch a bite of food, it wobbled when it walked,
and slept all of the time. This went on for a week.
Then I got a wild hair to give my doggy some green tea.
Then I put in the utility room with its food and milk, and the family
left to go to church. When we got back, every bit of the doggies food was
eaten, with no other culprits in sight. And it was wagging it's tail for the
first time after a week of being sick and near death. The doogie has
eaten ever since and is thriving very well.

Emeraldblueskies

Caffeine Cautions for Birds
I note that you have several people who have commented that they share their tea with their birds. PLEASE BE ADVISED that caffeinated tea is TOXIC TO BIRDS! I, too, love your teas -- mainly your black fruit flavored and your chai spice -- but I hide my cup from my conures, quakers and amazon. They only get to share my orange juice and herbal teas. If you could pass this tidbit on to your various bird loving postees it would be greatly appreciated.

By Jane Ellis

Pet Friendly Tea
I had never tried your teas before last weekend, and happened to be at my mother's having my first mug of Earl Grey and my mother's cockatiel Custard flew over to inspect the contents of the mug. I let her lean in and take a sniff and a taste, and it was all over-she wouldn't let me even have my OWN sips!

Thank you for such a wonderful, pet friendly treat!

Melissa Hunter

CockaTEAls
My cockatiels love warm chamomile tea. They sip it right out of the mug. They can't get enough! I always have to share with all 4 of them!

Debbie

Tea and Parrots
I love to drink tea. It's one of my favorite things in the world. I add some sugar and let it cool down quite a bit before I drink it. I have parrot, a black lory named Squirt. She's two years old and very spoiled. I never thought of giving her tea until one day she climbed onto the end table and dove beak-first into my jumbo mug. She drank as much as she could then tried to take a bath in the rest. So now, as a treat, I fix some fruit flavored tea and she loves it. She gets very possessive about "her mug." She won't drink it out of her bird dishes, it has to be in a mug. And I figured I should use a smaller mug so she can't bathe in it, since sugar makes her feathers sticky.

Jenny Siegfried

Calico cat and peppermint tea
Like Penny the Cat, my Calli went frantic when I opened a box of peppermint tea. So I threw the box with one tea bag down for her to see the reaction. Well, she sniffed, licked, soaked up the tea bag and box, and then she lay down on the remains for a catnap. What a sight. Who needs to buy fancy toys, eh?

Gloria

Begging for Tea
Whenever I sit down for a pot of tea, my bichon-frise "Maxx" joins me. He is a big fan of strong black tea with cream, and goes absolutely nuts waiting for his little cup to cool off enough for me to let him enjoy it. For the past ten years, we have shared tea and cookies in this ritual when its just the two of us, and when company comes over, he begs for tea! (He never begs for food, only tea!) Maxx is living a much longer, healthier life than our vet expected, for when we got him he was constantly ill. He is now nearly 14, and I credit at least part of it to the tea!

Lisa Kenny

Don't Forget our Feathered Friends!
First of all, I'd like to say big Thank You for making tea a part of daily life at our house. We enjoy your Premium Green, Organic China Green, and Mutan White teas the most. I always check the Internet Tea of the Week because I love the green canisters and that is the most economical way to get them.

I must say, although I enjoy a soothing cup of stash tea with my fiance', my favorite tea partner is actually my bird, Siggy. He is a Patagonian Conure (about the size of a pigeon, long-tailed and hook-billed like a Macaw). He's 19 years old now, and has been enjoying tea for a very long time. He prefers the Organic China Green, I think because it has the freshest taste, almost like a fresh-cut lawn, and a fresh peppermint leaf from the garden makes it taste even better. We often enjoy a little quiet time together, chatting and sipping tea and eating my favorite nuts - almonds, or his favorite - pistachios. If I take his cup away, he'll say, "Wanna Drink?". He can even make a nice "sippy" sound as he watches me drink. Siggy doesn't drink just anything, and I think that his love for tea says something about the goodness and good health it brings to all who enjoy it.

Connie Kronberg

Tea for Two
Whenever I make myself a cup of tea, I take the used (still warm) teabag and squeeze it into a very tiny dish for my guinea pig. He purrs while he drinks it.

Angela Jakary

Dog Feet
So by reading all these messages I see that most of us know a few things teas are good for. Most for health, from antioxidents to headaches, to lowering blood sugar levels. I found even more uses on our pets. We love to hike with our dog. But he has sensitive feet due to frostbite a couple years ago. Well, I found out that using a strong footbath of black tea 3 to 4 times a week, for 2 weeks before a big hike will toughen the pads of the feet and prevent sores. Also, carry extra chamomile (don't forget fido's share) for around the fire at the end of the hike day. Happy trails, and don't be afraid to try new flavors of stash !!

Patty S.

Wisconsin

Cleaning your rugs
I read through them all. Saw a few times the one I knew about using tea to clean up the tables in a Chinese restaurant. I like the one about cleaning her cat's eyes. I do that for my Cocker Spaniel Raisun. I also use used, nearly dry tea leaves to dry wash her coat, esp when she has dander. Something a friend taught me years ago and she got from her grandmother in the 1930's is to use the used nearly dry leaves to clean Persian/Oriental rugs. Just sweep them up after sprinkling over the rug.

Donna Malahni Jackson

Converting the masses
Here in the U.S., a lot of people have yet to discover the joys of tea, and so it is one of my many goals in life to bring over as many people to the tea side of the table as possible. My biggest accomplishment to date has been my husband, who now askes for tea rather than coffee at restaurants (only if it's Stash) and steals my chai at every opportunity. The strangest, however, occured one lazy Sunday morning. The only one awake, I was trying to pour a cup of Earl Gray but not succeeding because the cats kept tripping me. Exasperated, I gave them a dish of milk, adding a drop or two of tea on a whim. They loved it! My roommate still says that was one of the weirdest sights she has ever seen; the cats and I sharing a cuppa!

Rachel Weller

Sweet Tea
In the summer - on hot days - our dog (who was raised down south) begs for sweet tea!! We also have a potbelly pig who also LOVES sweet tea!! Teas also work all of the same health Miracles on animals as they do on people!!

Also - when we moved here - we had an almost dead 100 year old tree in our front yard - it wasn't getting enough water - but we poured ALL of our leftover sweet tea on this tree and it flourished!! Not only did it come back to life, but it began growing!!!

Talking to plant experts - the sugar acts as extra energy for plants - as well as people! We've since had our roof re-done so that the rain water now pours directly into the trees roots.

Kirk S.

Fleas and Teas
Fleas HATE Stash Earl Grey. Tear open a few bags, scatter the tea about on your carpet and vacuum up in a few days. Fleas will flee. Other folks have noticed that their pets love to roll in Stash-perhaps that's why!

JGardner

Tea and Dogs
I have to watch that my dog doesn't get to the spent tea bags -- she likes to rip them open and roll on them! Likewise the loose leaves from gunpowder tea (I like Temple of Heaven and so does she). On the other hand, as several other contributors noted, tea makes nice scent sachets -- and the dog smells pretty good after a "tea roll," too.

Karen C.

Tea and Litter Boxes
I have a friend who puts her discarded tea packets in the bottom of her kitty litter box, and it makes a wonderful difference!

Mary M.

Tea and Penny the Cat Thought you might be interested in seeing the enclosed picture of my cat Penny and your Stash tea. As you can see she likes Stash tea - she will scratch in the tea box until she digs out some of the tea bags then she proceeds to lie on the box.

Feline Mint Lovers
Howdy folks -

You wanted a strange story, so here goes .....

Well, we had these two cats who loved tea. Not actually drinking it, but inhaling it, or at least the smell. One had a definite preference for spearmint tea, while the other loved peppermint tea. They'd roll around like they were high or something after smelling the tea. We'd mix it with catnip to give the cats something fun for their play toys.

We were never able to grow any mint while they were around, for obvious reasons ..... :-)

Chris Cheyney

Foil Envelopes and Catbox Cleaning
Dear Stash People,

Well we don't do anything unusual with the tea, but we have been making good use of the foil packs, most particularly the peppermint packs. One of our least favorite jobs is CATBOX time. To make this a more pleasant experience (this is true folks, not made up to pull anybody's leg) we take a peppermint foil pack and put it over our noses. We just tear down one side a bit, the top is already open and jam it on - if it won't stay on it can be inhaled deeply before and after. This has changed our lives.

Sincerely,

Mrs. H. Bargeron.
Worthington, MA

Trading Tea
Trade it like baseball cards! My son is in 3rd grade in an all boys religious school here in Israel, and trading tea is the biggest thing since chewing gum! Your teas easily trade at one for at least two of the local brands. The only problem is that my wife has "discovered" your Licorice Spice, and my son's collection is beginning to suffer. He has decided that for mom he'll trade one Licorice spice for any two other teas and and candy bar;-)

Lindberg

Tea Bookmarks
After enjoying a cup of Chai Spice Tea, I use the empty foil packet(s) as bookmarks, flavoring my books with the chai's wonderful aroma.

Helen Cohen

Tea and Soapmaking
I've been learning the art of home soapmaking. I make small batches, and often experiment with different natural scents. One of my favorite results was from adding powdered green tea to the other soap ingredients. The result almost smelled good enough to eat!

Scott Bartell

"Tea-Dye" Rope
I volunteer on a restored old sailing ship, ELISSA (www.tsm-elissa.org) in Galveston TX. The bosun had a problem finding an appropriate type of line that we could use in a particularly visible place, so he took some ordinary white nylon line and tea dyed it to be colored more like a traditional fiber rope. It worked like a charm as a surface dye.

By Derrith Wieman

Tea Tip
I do "living history" of the Civil War era. I make all of my 'period attire' (don't you dare call it a costume!), but sometimes I just can't find the right accessory in ecru. I have made up a tea bath using 4-6 tea bags and gave a good old-fashioned look to a white collar. I use at least a dozen in order to dye something larger, such as white lace curtains to use as an overskirt. The longer I leave the item in the hot tea bath, the darker the color gets! And I'm sure that's just what our foremothers did, too!

Carolyn S. Billups

Collectionist
Well, I have a big collection of tea bags and I exchange them with other collectors from other parts of the world. It's a very nice hobby in which of course, the Stash tea bags are a must.

Marcelo L. Strauch

Buenos Aires, Argentina

How to care for Coramandel screens
I just read the long list of things to do with tea and did not find my "tea-thing" among them...when I bought 2 Coramandel screens a few years ago, I had no idea what to use to clean them or polish them with...the very knowledgeable person who sold me the screens told me to boil a few strong black tea bags in water and then let it cool...then I was to take a clean soft cloth(like a diaper) dip it in the tea mixture and wipe the screens with it...then I was to take another soft cloth and wipe the screen dry...this left the black lacquered screens with a soft glow...perfect!!! Thanks for some great tea ideas!!

Arlene Jalbert

Teddy Bear Tea Parties
I'm a teddy bear crafter and photographer. A really fun and enjoyable activity is to stage a tea party with teddy bears, photograph them in their finery with all the tea party goodies and dishes, then make greeting cards with the photos - or better yet, create stories with the pictures. Of course, use Stash teas for the party (the bears like camomile with honey!)

Ele

Ele's Teddy Cubs

Special Memories Tea
I wanted you to know a unique way I used your product for a holiday gift. I was trying to think of something very special for my 85 year old aunt who raised me. Since she is an avid herbal tea drinker, I wanted the gift to center around that. I wanted an especially attractive looking tea to make this idea work and stumbled across your product because of the attractive gold foil packaging. I purchased blank business cards and set out to work. I made 4 sheets of business cards with a beautiful flower and the words, pick a special memory. Once the cards were printed, I took them part and wrote a special childhood memory that I had of my aunt. Then I took a round gold seal and attached the card to each of two boxes of your tea. Then I placed 20 of them in a decorative box and labeled it Special Memories tea. The other 20 I replaced in one of the tea boxes and labeled it refills of special memories tea. This way I thought each morning as she enjoyed her first cup of tea, she would have a nice thing to reminisce about. Needless to say, it was a big hit. She told me that I must write to you and tell you what a wonderful product you have and since it was the focal point of my gift project, she thought you would like to know the unique way your tea brought joy to her this holiday season. Today as I went shopping, I had to have you tea become my new tea product as well, since it has brought her so much joy. Hope you liked the story.

Sincerely, Kathy

I Gave My Wedding Shoes an Antique Look
I wore my mother's silk satin gown when I got married a few years ago. The gown was almost 50 years old and had a lovely antique off-white color to it. But I couldn't find satin shoes in any color but stark white! I wanted the shoes to match my gown, so I soaked them in strong, warm tea for a bit, and it worked! The color was just *perfect*! Unfortunately, the man I married wasn't - c'est l'amour! C'est le thé!

Patty

Vintage Guitar Parts
I know it seems a heinous crime to misuse a good tea in such a way ;-), but my dh (darling husband) uses a stiff brew to dye plastic parts on electric guitar (pickguards, volume knobs, etc.) to give them that vintage look. It works like a charm!

Kate

Antiquing, potpourri, and medicinals
I use tea in many different ways, other than the obvious drink. One way that I use it regularly is as an antiquing agent. I do a lot of Native American craftwork, and have found that tea will antique bones quite nicely, and different teas give a different shading effect (green teas produce greyish bone, black teas make yellowed brown, berry teas tend to make pinkish shades, etc.) A second way I use it is as a potpourri. I love the smell of some teas so much that it makes a wonderful potpourri in a simmer-scent pot! Once I've boiled most of the scent away, however, I then toss it on the garden, where it will make for great compost. I also use teas medicinally. Peppermint settles the stomach, so when my five-year-old has an upset stomach, I'll make her a cup of peppermint tea. Chamomile is a relaxant, so it's good before bed. And when I've got one of those dry, hacking coughs, a good hot cup of tea with honey and lemon juice in it will keep my throat moist enough that maybe I won't cough as much.

There's more, but I won't bore you with details... suffice it to say, I'm a tea junkie!

Lori Fuller

Skin art, medicine, and drinking
I have several things I use tea for:

Assam: is GREAT for mixing with my henna.. the tannin properties are great.. I use the henna for skin art.

Peppermint: When I have a migraine, or an upset stomach this is so calming and relaxing..

The rest.. I just LOVE to drink hot or cold, I LOVE my tea....

Sue

Christmas Tea Tree I thought the folks at Stash might be interested to see what I did with my Christmas tree. I have a one and a two-year-old, so I wanted to keep it out of reach. So I got a 3' tree, put it on a high dresser and covered it with teacups and packets of Stash herbal teas. I drink a lot of Decaf Earl Grey, and don't care for herbal tea, but I've always been drawn to the colorful packaging, and I thought the bright colours and gold were very Christmas-y. I'm really pleased with the result, and I've had lots of compliments on it. Yours truly, Fiona Kelly

Pantyhose color enhancer
I grew up drinking chamomile tea in the late evenings with my daddy. Here's another way to use tea. Panty hose too light for your skin tone or to match your outfit? Make a pot of the strongest tea and when it cools let the panty hose sit until desired shade is reached.

Nylons & WWII
In World War II when nylons were expensive & hard to come by, my grandmother would take all her odd, differently coloured stockings & dye them with tea. They all ended up a uniform brownish colour. She also used tea -- as some of your readers have suggested -- to dye discoloured cotton objects, and as compost for her flowerbeds.

Suzanne
Toronto, Canada

Decorating with Tea
I loved the white sofa with the cabbage roses seven years ago, but it was starting to look a little dreary. I decided to stain the fabric with tea, a combination of black and plum tea for a light pinkish cast. I used a sponge brush for the main part; then removed the fabric from the cushions and pillow and soaked them in the tea. I have had many compliments on the sofa and of course it is perfect for masking the occasional tea spill.

Tina
Ashburn, Virginia

Making new paper look old
When I was doing a project in high school, I found a great way to make new paper look old using Stash black tea. Take some white paper of your desired thickness, and tear off the rim so that it's jagged and worn looking. The paper can be crinkled a bit for added efect. Then get yourself a cup of hot water to dip a tea bag (or two) into. Dip a fresh teabag in the hot water, and run it along the paper. ( I like to use gloves because the tea can stain my fingers ). Blotting on edges and in random areas adds character too. Let the paper dry, and add your designs! This tea-bagging can be done a few times to the same piece of paper, depending on how old you want it to look. This is a fun idea for treasure maps, birthday invitations, and for poetry gifts.

Rea Kapler
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Trimming with Stash
It's fun to add a little 'extra' to your birthday and holiday gifts, by using Stash tea bags as gift box trimming. Depending on the tastes of my friends and the colors of gift wrap I'm using, I'll sometimes take a colorful Stash tea bag and attach it to the package with a bit of ribbon -- usually held fast by an adhesive gift tag. It's fun, and gives the recipient something else to look forward to after the party...a wonderful, flavorful cup of relaxing tea!

Cardinal Robbins
Burbank, CA

Wedding Tea
I must tell you about the "Tea that Saved a Wedding." A few years ago, a friend was making a wedding gown for her daughter, in a lovely shade of antique ivory. Unfortunately, she had completely run out of fabric before she could make her daughter's bridal handbag. Her daughter found the perfect handbag, and the woman soaked it in tea -- able to match the bridal gown perfectly. Even the pearl trim took on the stunning shade!

You'll groan at the pun intended, but yes...the entire ensemble matched '"to a 'tea''"...and it most definitely is a true story.

Cardinal Robbins
Burbank, CA

the Perfect Gift!
I always give the same wedding gift, and It's always met with sincere delight. A guaranteed success: I find a lovely basket that's pretty large. Into it goes a proper tea pot (none of these cutesy ones, a substantial British pot). I find two cups or mugs that I know the couple will appreciate and include two pretty napkins, two unusual and interesting spoons, a jar of flavorful honey (I like Tupelo or orange blossom) and a sampler box of Stash Tea. I often include a box of Licorice Spice too, because it's unusual and my all-time favorite. Next I tuck in one or two boxes of especially delicious cookies. And the last and most important item: a Complete Works of fairy tales, usually either the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Anderson, depending on the bridal couple. I tie a big ribbon on, cover all with a pretty cloth tucked in all around, and pin an envelope on top labelled "Instructions". Inside I give instructions for a Quiet Evening Together: tea, cookies, and reading aloud of fairy tales. They can take turns, or one can read while the other pursues a craft -- couples often tell me that they've begun a regular tradition, one they'll enjoy through the years, including children they may have!

Incidentally, my husband and I have been together 15 years and are still like newlyweds, and this tradition brought us together and is still a favorite pasttime. (It's the least-expensive most romantic evening any couple or family can possibly have!)

Dale-Harriet and Paul
Madison, WI

Tea Motif for Decorating
My husband and I are in the process of remodeling our kitchen. We're making our kitchen our "Tea Room". I have a small collection of teapots that are going to be displayed above my wall cabinets. The countertop will be covered with ceramic tile, with a few teapot tiles here and there. I'm using a wallpaper border with teapots on it for my backsplash and I plan to paint tea sayings on my walls above my backsplash. I'm trying to find pictures of old tea advertisements to photocopy and decoupage to my wall. It's been a slow process because coordinating all of the colors has not been easy, but when I'm done, I know it will be my favorite room.

Linda G
Chambersburg, PA

Tea and Gloves
I remember always wearing gloves for Easter services when I was growing up. I frequently preferred dresses which off white gloves were required so my mother used tea to dye the white gloves the perfect match. We also used this technique in dying fabric shoes to go with formals. I love herbal teas and many restaurants do not offer anything but black so I keep a couple of tea bags in a ziplock snack bag in my purse and order hot water so I can enjoy a soothing cup with my meal.

Sherry M.

Tea and Hats
My first recollection of the benefits of tea came when I was in the first grade. We had a crazy hat contest and, with my Mother's help, I put together an "afternoon tea" hat...with cardboard teapot and tea bags hanging down all 'round. It was the most wonderful hat -- to be worn with gloves, of course -- and I won an honorable mention. It should have been first prize, but it was that "tea-se" to be in the winner's circle that has influenced me ever since.

Best regards,

Sue P.

Tea and Scrimshaw
I am a scrimshaw artist on occasion. When using what is called vegetable ivory in lieu of real ivory I soak the pieces in a strong tea for several hours to get an antique ivory effect & coloring on the vegetable ivory. Looks exactly like the "real" thing!

Donald H.

Tea and Ceramic Glaze
In order to give ceramic pieces with a crackled glaze a safe color in the crackles, soak them in a big container of old tea. Pour the remains from your teapot, with the leaves, into the container every time you drink tea. You may have to leave it for days or even weeks to get enough color. This will depend on the porosity of your clay, and the size or amount of crackle.

Carolyn

Tea and Ballerinas
My favorite aunt taught ballet and other forms of dance for over 25 years, so I've been dancing since I was 3 years old. I remember with great fondness and anxiety the annual recital. Often the dressmaker got panicky as the costume deadline approached, and would hand over to each dancer a semi-finished costume with 2 pieces of white elastic. My aunt then instructed the parents to soak the white elastic in heavily steeped tea long enough to get the perfect shade to match the dancer's skin tone, before sewing them on as shoulder straps. This way the elastic did not show from the audience; and lo, her little ballerinas danced with elegant "strapless" costumes!

Jan B.
Estes Park, Colorado

Tea and Embroidery
My mother embroidered a linen with the Lord's Prayer. To make it look old, she soaked it in tea. Now, it has a beautiful antique appearance.

L. Cornillie

Tea and Preschoolers
Dear Stash, Teas bags are great for preschoolers to use in making designs on construction paper or scratch paper. Different flavors provide varied scents, as well as interesting designs. Allows innovation and a chance for creativity instead of plain old crayon and paper!!

K.V. Los Angeles, CA

Tea and Emergencies
I would like to tell you what I do with your tea. I frame unopened foil bags of your tea, several in each frame. I give these as gifts, some I just put by themselves in the frame and then sometimes I put a small sign at the bottom saying " In case of a tea emergency, break glass". I sell these to make tea money to buy your tea, and to buy teapots and bone china tea cups/saucers for my future tea room, so I can share my enjoyment of Stash Tea. Thank You for making my life a lot more Tea-riffic.

Kathay from Howell N.J.

Tea and Picture Frames
I am a photographer and often frame my own works. Some of the frames are 'seconds' with small imperfections in them. I have tried many things to cover the spots, but taking a tea bag, wringing out most of the water and just slightly wetting the spot on the frame hides most imperfections!

Debbie

Tea and Greeting Cards To whom it may concern. Hello, this is what I do with your tea bags. I like it. I make greeting cards. Mrs. Aria Buitenhuis Kakabeka Falls, Ontario

Licorice Spice Potpourri
I use the spent teabags as potpourri. Right now my house is filled with the delightful scent of Licorice Spice tea. I just recently sold my house, and I believe the potpourri-tea helped. Everyone who saw the house commented on how "pleascent" (pun intended) the house was. It's kind of like aroma therapy!

Charles P.
Warwick, RI

Teabag Letter Stuffers
I make strong blends such as Mint/Cinnamon/Orange Spice, and ice it. Great at a cookout and no one asks for sugar, lemon or milk (or cola). . . .

In out-of-the-U.S. letters I use tea bags as "stuffers" . . . Folks love the aroma when the letters are opened . . .

How about a Christmas tree with gift-wrapped cellophane tea packs as ornaments? Each guest gets one on the way out the door.

Edith B. Shafer
Greenfield, MA

Tea and Sachets
This year I have decided to make potpourri and sachets for gifts. They look great and smell great too. I keep my used teas bags to add to my spices, herbs and flower petals. The tea leaves add smell and color, and even though I've used the tea to drink, they are so heavenly scented that they still smell good.

Mrs. Linda Stipsky
Burbank, CA

Tea Dyeing White Clothes
Hello !

Your favorite white cotton blouses getting somewhat dull and old looking? Transform it to new looking blouse with your next pot of tea.

I dye my cotton bras and underwear in strong tea. They produce very nice natural color; adjust the shade of color by how strong the tea and how long you cook in it.

Hiroko Fujisue
Mission Viejo, CA

A Real Tea Room
When I was at the University of Arkansas, I used the stash tea packets to decorate my dorm room. The bright colors and metallic gold made it look cool and unique!

Lauren

Scotch and Tea
My husband calls this a "slow boat to china"
8ounces hot/boiling water
1 chai spice black tea bag
1tsp honey
One half an ouce of "Cutty Sark" Scotch Whisky
Make tea according to directions, add honey and cutty sark & stir. Contents maybe too hot to drink...let cool a bit.

Kilocharlie

Wedding Favors
Dear Stash Tea company, I wanted to let you know that my fiance' and I are getting married on Sept. 25, 2004, and we are making our guest favors. They will be a folded card of cream cardstock and on the left inside, we are printing "Have a cup of tea on us! It's one of our favorite things to do! Nick and Brenda", and on the right side, we are attaching a Stash tea bag (wrapped, of course).

We drink at least 2 cups of your tea a night! It's the absolute best. Nick particularly loves the Blueberry; I love all the Black Teas, but I especially love the Irish Breakfast (I had it in Dublin and it tastes very similar) and the Peach tea is so yummy!

I just wanted to let you know what a big fan we are of Stash teas! I want to visit Portland someday and you can be sure we will take a tour of your place!

I gave Stash Tea for Christmas gifts to about 6 people, including my fiance'! When the favors are done, I will e-mail you a photo of them! Keep up the good work!

Thanks! Brenda LaMalfa and Nick Stolz, Milwakee, WI

Fun Mixes
I enjoy the variety of teas I have purchased from Stash. My favorite thing to do is mix the teas with different flavors. I mix Apple Cinnamon, Orange Spice and Earl Grey for a really nice flavor. I also mix Earl Grey, Peppermint and Tangerine Tea in the evening for a light flavor before Bed time.

Sherri Whittaker
Bowling Green,Ky

Clean Office Air
I work in a business that has windows that don't open (intentionally), so fresh air is at a minimum. My trick is hanging one of your tea bags, Chai Spice to a small fan in my office so that the propeller swings the tea bag. The smell is invigorating, anytime someone comes in they comment how good and clean my office smells.

Jo-Anne Goss, Rhode Island

For the Mom to be
I'm an age where all of my friends and cousins are starting families. For the past few baby showers that I've been to, I've added a little gift bag to include Chamomile tea and a special mug for mom-to-be. Just a little something extra for that friend or family member who appreciates a good cuppa tea like me!

Tracy Woods-Limper

Tea Traditions
Nothing unusual. It is a tradition passing itself down. As I enjoyed tea with my mom as a youngster, so now my 12 year old daughter and I also share some bonding time in the evening before bed over cups of chamomile and apple cinnamon teas.

Kris A.

Memories of Mom
My most wonderful memory of my mother centers on tea. I am the youngest of 7 of a very active family. As I was growing up, it was hard to have 1 on 1 attention from my mom. There are several years between my siblings and I, the closest being 6 years older. I always knew as I was getting ready for school I would have my mom's 1 on 1 attention. As early as I can remember we drank a cup of tea together every morning before school, just the two of us. We talked about everything over those morning cups of tea. She was very much a traditionalist when it came to tea, but when I grew older I introduced her to the vast array of wonderful teas there are! My mom passed away 4 years ago and even now, I think of her every time I drink a cup.

Tea Tips
In my school, all the pupils have their own lockers, though this isn't normal in Norway. Almost everyone of us have one of our favorite packages of tea, a can of sugar and of course our own, special tea cup, lying in the locker just waiting to be used. I go to a High School with special music lessons, and every time we get long breaks, all of us are sitting there, drinking our fantastic tea, talking, laughing and just having a good time... The organization of music pupils once bought some water-boiling cans, and now we are about 100 pupils sharing this tradition. I once tried to drink the tea in the cantine at school, but it had this awful cold taste with a weak color of tea in it. So now I've started making my tea just as I love it: strong and tasty with lots of brown sugar. It makes me wake up in the mornings and stay concentrated during the day. So this is a tip for all who want to make their day at school or job something special: start this tradition wherever it's needed, bring your special cups and your favorite tea, and just enjoy the taste of the world's most fantastic drink!!

Mari Elise

Tea and me
I love the warmth of a hot cup of tea in the early mornings, or at bedtime when I read short love stories, while soaking in a hot tub scented with chamomile oil, or just sitting on the deck gazing at natures beauty.

I have introduced my grand daughters to a weakened cup of jasmine tea and plenty of conversation that I allow them to lead- what a time we share and what memories we can hold in our hearts. When my own children were their age I mixed them a cup of spiced tea and lemon with honey , they wanted to know what I called it and I said it was "the spice of life" and that's what they would ask for at bedtime. I believe that traditions and rituals are survival tools for all families and you will be surprised at the many conversations you can incite by putting on the tea kettle!

Lynn

Good to the Last drop!
I will never forget the first night that I had dinner with my inlaws! After a wonderful dinner, my mother in law served tea, which I have always loved, a nice refreshing change to coffee. As I glanced over at my father in law, he had finished his cup of tea and now had proceeded to put the tea bag in his mouth! My eyes bulged! Then, I glanced over at my husband, trying not to laugh, but wanting to get his attention, and much to my surprise, he to had placed the tea bag in his mouth! It was too much, I began to giggle, where they informed me that this was the best part of the cup of tea!

Dawn Peters
Columbus, GA

There's tea in my envelope!
My sister and I are avid tea drinkers, always on the look out for something new to us. We lived together for about six months and it was awful having to divide up all our tea when I moved (but now I have twice as many kinds!) Now every time either of us gets a new tea, we send it to the other with a letter through the mail. The rule is we have to try to guess what kind it is. We always include the answer, hidden in the enevelope. I put the answer in an old tea tag. Each letter also includes a tea quote. This tradition adds quite a bit of excitement to our letters, especially when we send loose tea (taped in wax paper!)

Figaro

You put ICE in your tea
While enjoying mid-afternoon tea on a visit with my pen pal in Aberdeen, Scotland, I happened to mention that on such a "fine day" back home, we would be relaxing with a glass of iced tea. A shocked look appeared on her face as she said "You put ICE in your tea?". Whoops, I should have known better; this is a country where they don't even refrigerate their beer.

Kay Bohnsack
Plymouth Wisconsin

The Finals Crunch
Almost anyone who had been in college knows that there is hardly ever enough time in a day to get everything done. I have stayed up nights to study for particularly nasty exams, and when I do I brew a pot of tea. Tea seems to be the perfect thing to keep you awake while not making you too jittery to concentrate on what you need to do. Forget coffee or caffeine pills; tea's the thing!

Benjamin P.

Tea and shooting
I'm a non-professional hunter, and in the winter that past, I spent for my christmas holidays in a cabin on a mountain. Drinking strong black tea before shooting improved my performance as my hands were more stable and my mind focused.

Boris Vnackca

Physics
We took physics with calculus as an accelerated summer class. We were having a hard time understanding the material. Then we started drinking tea (Earl Grey and Vanilla before class or while we studied, and English Breakfast before the tests.) Maybe it was just coincidence, but we ended up with a B+ in the class.

Matt and Heather

Russian Chai
The Russian word for tea is Chai, and I will always remember it. When I was in St.Petersburg, I found that tea was everywhere and seemed to be more favored than coffee. I spent my week in St.Petersburg during a very cold November, and every resturant was quick to offer tea. In Russia, they brew their tea thick and hot and pour it into small glasses. I had thought that England or India would have been the capitol of tea, but not so. The Russians thrive on it, and while viewing one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world in one of the most spectacular cities to be seen, with a cool chill moving across the sky, a drink of this Russian Chai completed everything.

H.S. Bailey

Philosophy and Tea
Hello Stash Tea Folks,

Here's one little Tea'd-bit of information. Ludwig Wittgenstein, arguably, the greatest Philosopher of the 20th Century used tea as a part of his habitual lifestyle. Being obsessed with cleanliness, he would dump his used tea leaves on the floor and use them to clean his cabin, tool-shed, or wherevever he happened to be living. Perhaps, he thought they had disinfecting properties. At any rate, it might just be because of those used tea leaves that Ludwig was able to push Philosophy in the direction that it is headed today.

- Ryan Emerick

Table Cleaning with Tea!
I can't take credit for this one, but I always thought it was a really ingenious idea. I saw it done for years in a Chinese restaurant, in the town I grew up in, that my family has been frequenting since before I was born.

When a waiter or waitress cleaned up a table after customers had left, they would poor a puddle of leftover hot tea on it and wash it down. When I was old enough to realize this was not something they did in every restaurant, I asked them "Why?". I was told that the acid in the tea (and the heat) helped to remove any grease or oil that may have gotten on the formica table.

Pretty cool, huh?!

Ruth F.
Methuen, MA

A Russian experience
In Russia, tea is a standard drink. You had it with breakfast. You were served it anywhere you went (with cookies). It always was on the table with dinner. After 3 weeks of drinking tea, it becomes a real habit. You have to keep in mind that it was about 90 degrees too. You can't drink the water unless it has been boiled and neither can they and most people drink tea. I loved it!

Sarah

Tea and Tchaikovsky
I am a programmer. Contrary to popular belief, writing programs can be a very creative process, and programmers are subject to "blocks" like writers are. One of my favorite things to do when I am faced with a programming block is to brew myself a nice hot cup of tea, sprinkled with a touch of cinnamon. I clean the clutter off of my desk, put on a little classical music ("Philips' 'Tchaikovsy at Tea Time' is a good one) and somehow my cubicle is transformed into a wonderful, relaxing environment, where the creative juices can really flow!

Lisa

Mystery Tea Contest
Last year my roommate and I at university discovered that tea was definitely common ground for us. We started collecting more and more kinds and our friends who caught on would bring us all sorts of teas as gifts. At any given time we would have 30 different kinds of tea on hand. So every Saturday night we'd invite anywhere between 5 and 20 people around for tea at which point we started the "mystery tea bag contest". Next to our tea menu on the wall we'd blue tack a random untagged tea bag and see if anyone was brave enough to choose it to drink and guess what the flavor was. (it could have been something scary like lapsang souchong or banana!) If they guessed correctly, they won! It got taken to extremes when a friend brought me a nicely decorated container of packets with oriental writing on it that we couldn't read and said that these "teas" had been in her cupboard for ages. so we had REAL mystery teas on our hands now. But when someone offered to drink one we all discovered that they were really soup stocks... he'd unfortunately chosen the fish one.

nessa, swansea wales

Tea and Southern Hospitality
Being raised by a Southern Woman you naturally know what to do with teas. Your tea presentation to your friends is what makes you a true Southern Woman. Hospitality is a major factor here in the South. If you make cloth dolls you dye it with tea to make it look old. If you are a Hairdresser you serve a Client tea to get them to relax. If you're outside and the hired hands are hot and tired, give them a cool glass of Iced Tea and they will be more than willing to finish your job. Giving someone a cup or glass of tea is like giving someone goodwill. If your heart is in it. A Southern Woman will always stay a lady and offer everyone a Stash Tea. It is a Southern Way.

Tea and Pretending to Read
I am a college student, and as such, thought I had learned every trick in the book when it comes to pretending that I did the required reading. However, I got a new roommate this year, and he showed me a thing or two. When he hasn't read a book, he brews a strong tea, pours some ON his desk, then throws the book on it. He then proceeds to rub tea into the spine, and grind his mug into the cover. When combined with vigorous breaking of the spine, the poor book begins to look very well read indeed.

We also had the power go out in a storm recently, so those of us who were up that night, lit candles in the dormitory lounge, brewed several pots of tea, and proceeded to hold a late night poetry reading. It was a wonderful evening, and I think that your peppermint tea was more popular than any of the poems.

Liam O.

Tea and Long Distance Tea Parties
Since my friends and I have gone off to our separate colleges, we miss our time together sitting in this little coffeehouse we like drinking stash peppermint tea. Right before finals come around, I dig into my personal "stash" of peppermint tea bags and mail one to each friend. I set a time where I know everyone will be awake, and we have a long distance tea party - each of us drinking our peppermint stash tea at the same time at our respective universities.

Sarah Elbling

Keeping Tea Safe
Living in a college dorm you must learn to put up with the little quirks of your roommate and floormates but there is a point where I draw the line. One weekend I went home and while I was gone my friends decided to have a little tea party and drank all of my favorite Stash Peppermint Tea! I was so upset!! I went out that day and bought a little box with a lock so that now my tea is safe and sound.

Erin Dove

Sharing Your Stash
Dear sir or madam:

One seemingly typical day in a high school dorm, a friend, Samuel Pierce, pulled me quickly into his room, and latched the door shut. With both hands he reached into his hair clasping several large tufts, and yanked tightly as he exclaimed, "I have chosen you! You will sit near the window, gaze down upon the others, and enjoy a portion of my stash." This I did, and rather frequently. Now, however, he is many miles away, and frankly I miss the tea. Please send me a catalog promptly.

Cordially,

Chad D.
Tempe, AZ

Tea and Candle Ritual
I have recently been developing my own little tea ritual. In the mornings and the evenings I light a couple of candles and brew a cup of loose tea before sitting down to write. I find that the process of brewing and the contemplative nature of sipping tea lend themselves to the creative process. I guess it's a bit of aroma therapy, too. Some teas really remind me of scents from my youth and help me get in touch with memories I use in my writing. So far, these little rituals have proved very effective in putting me in a writing mood. They also provide me with a needed division, a calm space of transition between my work day and my personal time.

Sally C.
Sherman Oaks, CA

Tea as plant food
I picked up this one from a friend in Hannover, Germany. I was having problems with my ivy plants, and she suggested that once a month, I feed my potted ivy plants with a bit of cold tea, usually the little bit left at the bottom of the pot (black tea is best). It acidifies the soil and makes the plant happy. We both now have thriving ivy plants.

Kristin Moilanen

Gardening With Tea
I'm a real tea-lover (2-4 POTS per day) and use loose tea most of the time, which leaves me with a lot of used tea leaves. So they go in my garden! I dump the leaves into a container on my kitchen counter and when the container is full, I dump it into my garden. If I have the time, I use a small garden cultivator (like a small hand rake) and scratch it into the top 2-3 inches. If not, I just leave it there. Scratched in, it helps enrich the soil by adding organic material. Left on top, it becomes a pretty good mulch. And my acid-loving plants (like hydrangeas, holly and azaleas) just love it! This will also work with tea bags, and you don't have to rip open the used bags if you don't want to as the bag material will decompose, too.

Beth

Landscaping with Tea
As a sometime miniature enthusiast, I have found that used tea leaves make a really authentic looking barkdust around a miniature flower bed. I dump them into a shallow plastic container (dip size works nicely) and they dry out sitting on my window sill overnight, ready for the next leaves the next morning.

Mary K McCloskey

HAPPY PLANTS!!
In a home my husband remodeled we enjoyed a planter box with poles from the box to the ceiling. This also served as a room divider, between dining and living areas. When friends gathered we enjoyed not only wonderful conversation but a good pot of tea. My request was that the cold tea not be wasted, that it would be fed to my "green leafed" friends. A combination of the tea and the sunny window near by provided us with "lush" plants.

Tea ideas passed down
When I was growing up I lived with my Grandmother who would always use leftover tea and tea leaves on her plants indoors and outdoors. The plants love it.

If ever I had a small infection in my eyes she would tell me to wipe my eyes with a piece of cottonwool soaked in tea or a used tea bag.

I still do these things myself and find the tea works great on my cats if they get an eye infection.

Tereza. CA.

Sweet Tea
In the summer - on hot days - our dog (who was raised down south) begs for sweet tea!! We also have a potbelly pig who also LOVES sweet tea!! Teas also work all of the same health Miracles on animals as they do on people!!

Also - when we moved here - we had an almost dead 100 year old tree in our front yard - it wasn't getting enough water - but we poured ALL of our leftover sweet tea on this tree and it flourished!! Not only did it come back to life, but it began growing!!!

Talking to plant experts - the sugar acts as extra energy for plants - as well as people! We've since had our roof re-done so that the rain water now pours directly into the trees roots.

Kirk S.

Tea and Houseplants
I am not the only one who benefits from a good cup of tea, my house plants also enjoy it. All of my used tea bags go into a gallon jug of water. As it sits, the last few hints of tea goodness seep into the water that I use for my plants. They have never looked better.

J. Pettit

Tea and Sunburn
Dear Stash Tea People,

A lot of times my friends and I use cold tea bags to soothe bad sunburns. We drink tea while we watch movies and as a substitute for popcorn we dip vanilla wafers into it. I drink tea every morning so my mother uses the used tea for her plants. I also sprinkle some cinnamon into my tea and drink it while I am writing, it helps me think clearly.

Jennifer D. Wright
Las Vegas, NV

Tea Leaves and Plants
After sitting in my garden enjoying a cup of your tea I share that goodness with my plants. I water them with leftover tea. I mix used loose tea leaves into their dirt, and (after removing the string, staple and tag) put old teabags into my compost bin. My indoor and outdoor plants thrive on this delicious addition to their "diets".

Organically yours,

Kitty Maloney
North East, PA

Teabag Paper Notes
I have lived in numerous places and have shared tea with many different people. So I open my used tea bags, save the used tea for my garden soil (organic for the herbs - caffeine for flower beds) and write short notes to friends (tea drinkers) on the paper from the tea bags. My friends love it!

A.R.
Rapid City, SD

Herbal Tea and Plants
Dear Stash People,

First of all, I would like to thank you for such pleasant-tasting tea. My plants and I enjoy all flavors. Yes, you read correctly - my plants!

Whenever I had tea leftover, I would feed it to my plants but now I steep a large pot full just for my plants.

P.S. They seem to prefer the herbal teas!

Sunny thoughts,

M.P. Parker, CO