Utilization of used tea

As you probably know that green tea contains a whole range of preventative benefits. After brewing tea what do you do with the tea leaves left in the pot? I guess most of you just throw them away as garbage. However, these tea leaves even after brewing tea, still contain catechine, protein, carotin and fibers which are effective for your body. Here, I ‘d like to introduce several examples of how to utilize used tea. 1. With used tea taken out just from the pot: Tsukudani Stir tea leaves with some oil, then add sake, sugar, soy sauce. When the leaves are cooked and become little dry, add milin, red paper and sesame seeds. Fried Rice Drop a table spoon of vegetable oil in the wok. When oil gets warm, add one egg into the wok and quickly stir. Then add some rice and minced tea. Sprinkle some salt and paper for the flavor. Dashimaki (Japanese Omelet) Beat several eggs in the bowl. Add some salt, soy sauce, sugar, dashijiru, used tea, and shredded carrot into the bowl and mix them well. Add little oil into the pan then pour 1/3 of the mixture on the pan. When its cooked, pour rest of the mixture in the pan. After it is fully cooked, place it on the cutting board and shape it using "makisu". Finally, cut it into the reasonable size pieces. Kakiage Beat on egg. Add some chilled water into the bowl. After that, add some flower, chopped tea, shredded carrots, can of tuna and mix them well. Scoop the mixture and drop it in the oil and deep fry them. Tempura Grade yamaimo, and then mix with chopped tea. Scoop the mixture and drop it in the oil to deep fry. Sprinkle powdered tea and salt on top as you serve. For cleaning tatami mats Spread the used tea all over on the tatami mats. Wait for awhile then bloom the mats. Used tea takes all the dusts away from tatami. 2. Use dried used tea: Furikake Cut them tiny pieces. Sprinkle on tofu, natto, spagetti, grilled fish or meat or rice and eat. Deodorizer You can put some used tea in the small container, and place it on the corner of the refrigerator. You can also sprinkle some used tea on the grills after you cooked meat or fish to absorb the smell of food especially fish from the grill. Green tea bath Make a small cotton pouch stuffed with used green tea, and put in the bath tab and bath. While you are taking a green tea bath, you can also use this pouch and rub on your skin. It is effective for different kind of skin problems. Tea aroma also help making you relax and calm your nerve. Next day, you can use this water inside the tab for wiping the flours. Tea pillow Stuff dried used tea in the pillow. The aroma of tea help you sleep well. Sterilization of the knives and cutting boards. Cut the used tea into small pieces and sprinkle on the cutting boards. Also, you can put tea in the cotton suck and use it to wash the knives and cutting boards. Deodorizer for shoes and shoe box Put some used tea in the container, and place it at the corner of the shoe box. Also stuff some used tea in the stocking and place in the shoes.

(Kazuyoshi Nakakoji)