Seamus Hammond
Incense is a combustible material that releases fragrance when burned. It is possible to make incense from tea leaves. The three main ingredients required to make tea incense are an aromatic plant material, a binding agent, and a base. The aromatic plant material can be a variety of sources such as herbs, spices, and seeds. The binding agent can be a botanical gum or resin, and the base can be charcoal. Loose tea incense can be burned on a heat-safe dish placed above burning charcoal. Alternatively, tea incense can be formed into cones or sticks.
How to make incense from tea
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tea type | Loose tea with larger dried pieces of tea leaves |
| Tea blend | Heavily spiced chai, citrus, or floral blends |
| Binding agent | Botanical gum, resin, honey, brewer's yeast, agar-agar, xanthan gum, wood binders, gum binders, makko |
| Base | Charcoal, wood sticks |
| Form | Loose incense, cones, sticks |
| Drying time | Several days to a couple of weeks |
| Burning time | Incense cones: less than 30 minutes. Incense sticks: close to an hour |
| Burning method | Place sand in an incense dish, put a charcoal briquette on top, light it and place the incense on top |
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Tea incense ingredients
The ingredients you will need to make tea incense depend on the type of incense you want to make. If you are making loose incense, you will only need tea leaves. If you are making incense sticks or cones, you will need a binding agent in addition to the tea leaves.
Tea leaves
The tea leaves you choose will determine the scent of your incense. You can use any type of tea, from heavily spiced chai to floral blends. Be sure to buy loose tea with larger dried pieces of tea leaves and other ingredients. While you will need to turn these ingredients into a powder, starting with larger pieces will ensure that your final incense has a full, rich scent.
Binding agents
Binding agents, also known as binders, are used to incorporate and hold together the incense. Common binding agents include plant gums, resins, and wood binders.
Plant gums:
- Brewer's yeast
- Agar-agar
- Xanthan gum
- Guar gum
Resins:
- Frankincense
- Myrrh
- Labdanum
Wood binders:
- Joss powder (also called jiggit)
- Tabu no ki (sometimes called makko)
Other ingredients
In addition to tea leaves and a binding agent, you may also want to include other ingredients to enhance the scent of your incense. These could include:
- Dried and ground herbs such as sagebrush, mugwort, yarrow leaves, juniper berries, wormwood, white sage, rosemary, or thyme
- Dried flowers such as rose petals, lavender, or yarrow flowers
- Essential oils, decoctions, hydrosols, and other liquid extracts
- Charcoal, especially if your incense is not self-burning
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Binding agents
Types of Binding Agents
The type of binding agent you choose will depend on your preference and the specific incense recipe you are following. Common binding agents include:
- Plant-based resins: Natural resins derived from trees, such as labdanum, frankincense, or myrrh, are commonly used. These resins are often pliable and can be combined with other ingredients to form pellets or sticks.
- Wood binders: Wood binders, such as joss powder (also known as jiggit) and "tabu no ki" (sometimes called makko), are forgiving and suitable for beginners. Makko is a natural combustible material from the Tabu-no-ki tree, which grows in parts of Asia. It acts as both a base and a binder and is known for simplifying the incense-making process. However, wood binders typically make up a large proportion of the incense mixture, and their binding strength is lower than that of gum binders.
- Gum binders: Gums like guar gum and xanthan gum are powerful binders, with a small amount going a long way. They are typically stronger than wood binders and add no scent of their own, allowing the other ingredients to shine.
- Natural sweeteners: Honey and dried fruit (soaked in wine) can also act as binding agents, adding a pleasant fragrance to the incense.
Choosing a Binding Agent
When choosing a binding agent, consider the following:
- Ratio: Some binding agents, like wood binders, may require a higher ratio in the mixture, which can impact the scent and burning properties of your incense. Gums, on the other hand, are typically used in smaller amounts.
- Scent: If you want the scent of your tea and other ingredients to stand out, opt for a binding agent with little to no scent, such as gum binders.
- Ease of use: Wood binders are generally easier to work with, especially for beginners, as they are more forgiving in terms of ratios and mixing.
- Burn properties: Consider whether you want your incense to burn quickly and intensely or slowly and subtly. The choice of binding agent can impact the burn rate and intensity.
Activating the Binding Agent
Don't forget that most binding agents require activation with a water-based liquid. This can be plain water, tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices, or even herbal teas and wine. However, if you're using essential oils, remember that they don't contain water, so you'll need to supplement with another water-based liquid.
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Forming incense
Loose Incense
If you are making loose incense, you are already done with the creation process. Loose incense is the simplest form of incense to make, but it requires an appropriate container to preserve its potency. Loose incense can be burned on a heat-safe dish placed above burning charcoal in an incense burner.
Incense Cones and Sticks
If you plan on making incense cones or sticks, you will need to form the clay-like incense mixture into the appropriate shape. To make cones, take a small amount of the mixture and pinch and roll it into a small cone shape. For incense sticks, you will need to form and squeeze a thin layer of the incense mixture around 3/4 of the way down a wooden incense stick. You can purchase these sticks from many retailers.
Incense Pellets
To make incense pellets, you will need to add a binding agent to your incense mixture. Many resins come in a pliable form that is perfect for moulding pellets. Labdanum is a common choice, but you can also use dried fruit soaked in wine to bind your incense mixture. Honey is also a good binding agent and preservative that adds a warm fragrance to the mixture. Once you have added your chosen binding agent, knead the mixture well and form it into pea-sized balls. Roll these in powdered herbs to prevent sticking and place them on a ceramic plate or parchment paper to dry. Allow them to dry for at least several days and up to a couple of weeks, turning them every day or two so they dry evenly.
Burning Your Incense
When your incense is dry, you are ready to burn it. Place some sand into your incense dish and put a charcoal briquette on top. Light the briquette and allow it to burn for about 30 seconds, or until it is evenly hot. Place your incense creation on top and enjoy the fragrance.
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Drying incense
Drying your tea incense is a crucial step in the process of making incense from tea. Here is a detailed guide to help you through the drying process:
Firstly, it's important to select the right tea leaves for your incense. Opt for loose tea with larger dried pieces of tea leaves. This will ensure that your final incense has a rich and full scent. You can choose from a variety of tea blends, such as heavily spiced chai, citrus, or floral blends, or even create your own unique mix.
Once you have selected your tea, you need to grind the tea leaves into a fine powder. This can be done using a mortar and pestle, although this may take some time. For a quicker result, you can use a coffee grinder to blitz and chop up the larger pieces first. Another technique is to partially grind the leaves, let them air-dry for a few hours or days, and then grind them again for a finer consistency. This step is important to release the aromatic compounds within the tea leaves and ensure an even burn.
After grinding, you can mix in a binding agent, such as botanical gum or resin, to help hold your incense mixture together. Charcoal is often added at this stage and ground into the mixture. If you're using a binder that also acts as a base, such as agar, you can calculate the amount needed to be equal to 20% of your tea powder.
Now, it's time to add moisture to create a moldable, clay-like consistency. Be careful not to add too much liquid too quickly, as this will alter the consistency of your mixture. Only a small amount of water is needed to achieve the desired texture.
Finally, the drying process can begin. Roll your incense mixture into pea-sized balls, and place them on a ceramic plate or parchment paper to dry. Let them dry for several days to a couple of weeks, depending on the humidity of your climate. Remember to turn them every day or two to ensure even drying. Once they are completely dry, you can store them away or proceed to the burning stage.
By following these steps, you will have successfully dried your tea incense, ready for you to enjoy its aromatic fragrance.
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Burning incense
To burn loose incense, place it on a heat-safe dish and put that dish above burning charcoal in an incense burner. Make sure you are in a well-ventilated area.
For incense cones or sticks, the process is a little different. Incense cones can be directly ignited and will release large amounts of aroma at once. A standard size cone will burn for less than 30 minutes. To make your own cones, simply pinch and roll a small amount of the incense mixture into a cone shape.
Incense sticks, on the other hand, burn slowly and release a more subtle aroma, lasting for up to an hour. To make them, form and squeeze a thin layer of the incense mixture around about 3/4 of the way down wooden sticks made for incense burning. Light the tip of the stick while it's standing up in a safe container.
If you're using charcoal, light the briquette and let it burn for about 30 seconds or until it's evenly hot. Then, place your incense ball on top.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need tea, a binding agent, and charcoal. The tea provides the aroma, the binding agent holds the incense together, and the charcoal is used to burn the incense.
Loose tea with larger dried pieces of tea leaves and other ingredients is best. You will need to turn these ingredients into a powder, so starting with larger pieces will make this process easier. You can use a variety of tea blends, such as heavily spiced chai, citrus, or floral blends.
Common binding agents include plant gum, resin, honey, brewer's yeast, agar-agar, and xanthan gum.
