Tea is not just a word for some; it is an emotion.
So much so that most of us get out of our beds only after taking the first sip of tea or when the mind clears as the hot drink goes into our gut.
We finish the cup in minutes, and whatever is left in the strainer goes straight into the bin. It takes two seconds, and we never think about what happens to those disposed-of tea leaves.
But think about how much tea is drunk every day, and how many soggy leaves quietly end up in landfills, and it is not just us who drink tea; there are millions of people around the world.
But have you ever thought about what exactly happens when these leaves are thrown away and how they can be used?
In many Japanese homes, used leaves have been treated as a multipurpose material that can be put to use rather than just rubbish.
Here are five simple ways to give your tea leaves a second life.
Photos: Canva