A cup of Pu-erh settles the mind's restlessness and distances one from the world's clamor. Its very essence destines it to be a spiritual drink for sipping and savoring. But did you know about the "alternative" uses of Pu-erh tea?

1. Brewing tea eggs is a delicious food. Some use already steeped tea leaves to boil them, others use tea dust. The key is to first hard-boil the eggs, gently crack the shells, then add the tea leaves to the water and continue boiling, allowing the tea flavor to penetrate better.

2. Do not discard used tea leaves. Spread them on a board to dry in the sun, and they can be used as pillow stuffing. A tea leaf pillow can refresh the mind and enhance thinking ability.

3. Dry the used tea leaves and light them at dusk in summer; they can repel mosquitoes and are absolutely harmless to humans.

4. People suffering from halitosis (bad breath) can cause dislike when talking closely to others. Pu-erh tea has strong astringency. Regularly holding tea leaves in the mouth can eliminate bad breath. Frequently rinsing the mouth with strong tea also has the same effect. If one is not fond of drinking tea, they can hold the already steeped tea leaves in the mouth to reduce the bitter taste while achieving the same result.

5. Silk clothing is most afraid of chemical detergents. If you use water boiled with steeped tea leaves to wash silk garments, it can help maintain their original color. Washing nylon fiber clothing can have the same effect.

6. Pu-erh tea is rich in pigments, giving it even wider uses. It can be used for mixing cocktails or in food production. If you keep some strong Pu-erh tea liquid in the kitchen as a seasoning for dishes, it is much better than common chemical colorants.

7. Steeped tea leaves still contain nutrients like inorganic salts and carbohydrates. Burying them in flower beds or pots can aid the growth and reproduction of plants. Gardening enthusiasts generally know this use, which is more convenient than disposing of them as garbage.

8. Pu-erh tea leaves contain a large amount of tannic acid, which has strong antibacterial effects, particularly effective against the filamentous fungi that cause athlete's foot. Therefore, people with athlete's foot can boil tea leaves into a strong liquid to wash their feet every night, and over time, it will cure the condition without medicine. However, one must be persistent in washing feet with boiled tea; significant effects will not appear in a short time.

Related link: The Efficacy and Effects of Pu-erh Tea