If you use loose leaf tea to make yourself a cuppa, you know that, in addition to being difficult to clean out every last bit of tea leaf, a lot of them get thrown away. They might not be strong enough to make more tea with, but there are a lot of uses for used up tea leaves, some of which still benefit from the antioxidant power of green tea. To prepare the used leaves, first dry them completely by laying them on a sieve or even a series of paper towels. Once dry, they can be used to:

• Take odors out of cutting boards by rubbing a freshly washed board with the leaves, then washing again. They can also help to absorb odor in carpets and even cat litter.
• Fill a small cotton bag with the leaves, dampen it, and place on your eyes to reduce puffiness. If you want to use this technique on your whole body, you can make the bag larger and put it in the bath.
• Green tea is a natural source of fluorine, which fights cavities and gingivitis, as well as strengthening teeth, so the leaves can be mixed with water and used as a mouthwash.

[Thanks, Robert]

We have heard time and again that tea - green tea in particular - is good for us, but the standard hot cup of tea can get boring quickly, especially when it is approached with the idea that you have to drink it for your health. Fortunately, Green Tea: 50 Hot Drinks, Cool Quenchers, and Sweet and Savory Treats has many alternatives to the standard cuppa, including some recipes for non-liquid foods, which will be a new use for tea to many.

The book is relatively small, less than 100 pages, but is full of beautiful pictures and a solid introduction to the basics of green tea, including the history of the drink and how to brew it. Moving beyond the intro, the drink recipes include iced and hot teas, smoothies and even cocktails. Solid foods include Grilled Chicken Satay with Green Tea Peanut Sauce, Fresh Fruit Salad with Green Tea Syrup and Green Tea Honey Cookies.