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I've been averse to reusing tea bags. I've tasted coffee after water has been run through the grounds twice, and it's really bitter, so I figured that tea can't be much different.

But then I got some loose lemon spice tea and the can explicitly stated that it was all right to reuse it.

Is this generally OK with tea?

flag	asked Nov 6 at 3:17 mbhunter♦♦ 2,574●1●2●11

Dogfood Provider · Accepted Answer · 2009-11-26 03:37:53Z UTC

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I drink Good Earth Rooibos tea (and I don't get a kick back from them, either!) and I always reuse my tea bags. Just one extra time though. I've never tried it a third time, but the second time always requires a longer steep, so I figured I'd get diminishing returns after that. Rooibos is a lot like black tea, but the kind I get has cinnamon in it, it's lovely. A milder tasting tea might not steep as nicely the second time -- your mileage may vary!

answered Nov 26 at 3:37

Dogfood Provider
419●7

	One tea I got at Teavana was a "white ayurvedic (avurvedic) chai." (Side note: I probably won't do that again; that place was VERY expensive.) But they made a point of noting that the water temperature should be 175 deg F. I wonder if there's a reference somewhere for determining the proper steeping temperature for other teas that (a) might make the teas taste better and (b) might make steeping twice work better. – mbhunter Nov 26 at 7:23
	Interesting. Maybe I need to add a little candy thermometer to my office lunch supply shelf? But on the other hand, ayurvedic medicine's been around a long time. Maybe they're onto something. – Dogfood Provider Nov 28 at 5:21
	There are tea snobs, just like wine, single malt, and Yankee fans...Learning to appreciate expensive teas would be self-defeating to us personal finance bloggers, huh! I think over steeping is the greatest danger, not the temp-leave the leaves or bag in too long-increases the "stringency". Maybe I better shut-up before I get accused of being a tea snob... – Dr Dean Nov 30 at 2:38

Dr Dean · Answer 2 · 2009-11-06 15:42:25Z UTC

I used to always make two cups with one bag. I didn't think it tasted any different, but I am not a tea snob.

I now use an electric tea pot to boil water, and has a basket for loose tea. Loose tea can be bought in bulk online. I usually buy a pound of English Bkfst, Earl Grey, and a couple of varieties of green tea. I have decaf green tea that is very mild but tasty for the evenings.

Pour the pot into a thermos after a three minute steep. I take the thermos with me to work, or sip on during the day. No more soda's, and less coffee.

Frugallawyer · Answer 3 · 2009-11-06 04:42:46Z UTC

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I think it is okay with tea. But I also drink weird non-caffeinated herbal teas and they hold up pretty well. I usually don't go more than two uses.

answered Nov 6 at 4:42

Frugallawyer
1,491●1●9

What is weird? Just wondering... – Dr Dean Nov 6 at 15:43

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Everyone at work comments on my warm beverages of choice since I can't drink caffeine (migraine trigger and no interest in it). So I always come in with some mix of twigs that looks more like a cup of blood than what they believe is tea. Then I sweeten it with agave nectar, so that puts me higher on the "weird" scale since I hate those awful artificial sweeteners. gah. – Frugallawyer Nov 6 at 15:50

mbhunter · Answer 4 · 2009-11-23 15:55:07Z UTC

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I usually make tea by the pot since MDT and I go through it pretty quickly--we're caffeine addicts apparently. But I only use 2-3 bags for the whole pot and it's always plenty strong, just let it steep a bit longer than usual.

edited Nov 23 at 15:55

mbhunter♦♦

answered Nov 23 at 14:47

Wren
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Revanche · Answer 5 · 2010-02-12 07:04:39Z UTC

When I use tea bags, I reuse them once, making sure not to steep too long either time. When I brewed loose Jasmine tea for my dad, a couple spoonfuls of those leaves would last for probably three pots without losing flavor as long as you serve and resteep within a reasonable amount of time.

But I'm not a tea connoisseur, either, so YMMV.

Reusing tea bags: Frugal or just silly / nasty?

5 Answers