Heidi Norton
Tea leaves can be used to create a custom incense with a variety of appealing and relaxing aromas. There are several ways to make incense from tea leaves, including grinding and rolling the leaves into a ball, or using a Japanese tea-leaf burner, also known as a 'chakouro' or 'cha kouro'. The latter method involves placing dried tea leaves in a tray or bowl on top of the burner, with a small candle such as a tea light underneath to warm the leaves and release their fragrance.
How to use tea leaves as incense
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tea leaf type | Green tea, Japanese tea leaves like sencha or bancha, or any other tea leaf |
| Tea leaf form | Loose tea with larger dried pieces |
| Tea leaf preparation | Grind into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle or coffee grinder; roll used tea leaves into a small, tight ball |
| Incense form | Loose incense or shaped incense (cones or sticks) |
| Burner type | Japanese tea-leaf-burner or chakouro/chakoro, a candle-based burner that elevates the tea leaves above the flame; iron skillet on the stove |
| Additional ingredients | Binding agent, water or oil, herbs, flowers, spices |
| Charcoal | Required for tea bags as incense |
| Bowl | Small bowl with sand or ash |
| Safety | Ensure the incense setup is secure and will not tip over |
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What You'll Learn
Using a chakouro
A chakouro is a type of incense burner that is used to gently diffuse the scent of roasted Japanese tea leaves. The name comes from the Japanese, with "cha" meaning "tea" and "koro" meaning incense burner.
To use a chakouro, first, prepare a spoon to scoop the tea leaves. You can use a kabazaiku teaspoon crafted from wild cherry tree bark for an added touch of elegance. Place the chakouro burner on a wooden trivet and set it on a flat, stable surface. Then, scoop around 5 grams of tea leaves onto the plate and gently spread them out evenly. If you are using a traditional teaspoon, you may need to add two scoops to achieve the optimal scent.
Next, gently set the top plate onto the chakouro, ensuring that it is securely positioned. Remove the candle holder from the chakouro, light a candle, and carefully place it back into the burner. The tea leaves used in a chakouro are typically Japanese tea leaves like sencha or bancha, but other types of tea leaves can also be used, such as green tea, genmaicha, or black tea.
After enjoying the aroma, allow the chakouro to cool completely before discarding the roasted tea leaves. Remember to occasionally ventilate the room with fresh air and handle the chakouro with care, as the ceramic will be hot. You can then return the chakouro to its box or display it as a decorative piece.
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Tea leaves with a binding agent
To use tea leaves with a binding agent to make incense, you will need tea leaves, a binding agent, and either water or oil. You can also add herbs, flowers, and spices to enhance the fragrance. The process involves creating loose incense or shaping the mixture into cones or sticks.
Firstly, select your tea leaves. It is recommended to use loose tea with larger dried pieces of tea leaves and other ingredients. You could opt for more heavily spiced chai, citrus, or floral blends, or even create an original mix of your own.
Next, grind the tea leaves into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle. This process can be time-consuming, so you can speed it up by first using a coffee grinder to chop up the larger pieces. Another method is to partially grind the leaves, let them dry, and then grind them again after a few hours or days.
Once you have a fine powder, mix in your chosen binding agent and either water or oil. You can then shape the mixture into cones or sticks if desired, or leave it as loose incense.
Finally, allow the incense to dry before burning it. You can place it in the sun on a window sill or outdoors. Once dry, store the incense in a cool, dry place until you are ready to use it.
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Grinding tea leaves
To make incense from tea leaves, you'll need to grind the tea leaves into a fine powder. This will ensure that the incense burns evenly and that you can access the aromatic compounds within the tea leaves. The best way to do this is to use a mortar and pestle. However, this process can be time-consuming, especially if you are using large or unbroken tea leaves. To speed it up, you can first use a coffee grinder to blitz and chop up the larger pieces. Another method is to partially grind the leaves, leave them to dry in the open air, and then grind them again after a few hours or days.
The tea leaves used in a chakouro, a Japanese tea leaf burner, tend to be Japanese tea leaves like sencha or bancha. However, you can use any type of tea leaves or combination of leaves, including coffee beans. The aroma will depend on the tea leaf type and quality, the amount of heat applied, and the burner type.
In addition to tea leaves, you can add herbs, flowers, and spices to create your own unique incense blend. You can also add a binding agent and either water or oil to help bind the ingredients together. Charcoal is often added to incense mixtures and can add a smoky aroma, but it should be avoided for indoor incense as it produces carbon monoxide when burned.
Once you have ground your tea leaves and added any desired ingredients, you can shape the mixture into loose incense or shaped incense such as cones or sticks. The tighter the mixture is packed together, the slower it will burn. You can then dry the incense in the sun on a windowsill or outside and store it in a cool, dry place until you are ready to use it.
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Using tea bags
Firstly, gather the necessary materials, which include tea bags, a heat-safe dish or bowl, a source of heat such as a candle or electric burner, and some water. You can experiment with different types of tea bags to find your preferred scent, but it's best to start with aromatic herbal teas like chamomile, lavender, or jasmine.
For preparation, set up your workspace on a heat-resistant surface. Place the heat-safe dish or bowl on the surface, and ensure you have a cup of water nearby to adjust the incense's strength as needed. If you're using a candle as your heat source, place it in the dish and light it. Alternatively, if you're using an electric burner, turn it on and set it to a low or medium setting.
Now, it's time to prepare the tea bags. Carefully open one or two tea bags and empty the contents into the dish or bowl. You can use a spoon or your fingers to gently crush the tea leaves and release their aromatic oils. Sprinkle a small amount of the crushed tea leaves onto the heat source. If using a candle, be careful not to sprinkle the leaves directly onto the flame; instead, sprinkle them around the base of the candle.
As the tea leaves heat up, you'll begin to smell the fragrance. Adjust the strength of the incense by adding more or less of the crushed tea leaves. If the scent becomes too strong, you can sprinkle a few drops of water onto the leaves to dampen the aroma. It's important to monitor the incense as it burns to ensure it doesn't become too smoky or produce excessive steam.
Finally, when you've finished enjoying the incense, carefully extinguish the heat source and allow the dish and tea leaves to cool. Dispose of the used tea leaves appropriately, and clean the dish with soap and water if needed.
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Custom blends
Tea leaves can be used as a base for custom incense blends. You can create your own unique incense blends by mixing dried tea leaves with other botanicals, resins, and spices. Experiment with different combinations to find your favourite scents and aromatic blends.
When creating custom blends, it's important to consider the base note, middle note, and top note of the ingredients. The base note is the underlying scent that lingers the longest, while the middle note provides the main body of the fragrance, and the top note is the initial aroma that evaporates quickly. By blending ingredients with different notes, you can create a well-rounded and complex incense fragrance.
Dried tea leaves, especially green tea and herbal infusions, can serve as the base note in your incense blends. Their earthy and grassy notes provide a subtle, natural aroma that lingers in the background. For example, matcha green tea leaves, when burned, offer a calming and soothing fragrance.
For the middle note, you can add dried flowers such as lavender, rose petals, or chamomile. These floral notes will provide a more distinct and prominent scent that complements the tea leaves. The subtle sweetness of rose or the herbaceous aroma of lavender can create a unique layer to your incense blend.
To add a quick-evaporating, refreshing top note to your blend, consider using citrus peels such as orange or lemon zest. The citrusy fragrance will provide a bright and uplifting touch to your custom incense. You can also experiment with spices like cinnamon or cardamom for a warm and inviting aroma.
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Frequently asked questions
A Chakouro, or Cha-kouro, is a Japanese tea leaf burner that resembles a tea light candle burner. You place dried tea leaves on the top plate and put a tea light candle underneath to warm the leaves. The aroma will depend on the type of tea leaf, the amount of heat applied, and the material the Chakouro is made of.
To make tea leaf incense, you will need tea leaves, a binding agent, and either water or oil. You can also add herbs, flowers, and spices. You can create loose incense or shape it into cones or sticks. First, grind the tea leaves into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder. Then, mix the ground tea leaves with your binding agent and chosen liquid. Finally, shape the mixture into cones or sticks, or leave it loose, and let it dry.
To burn tea leaf incense, use a Japanese tea-leaf burner, or Chakouro, or any other candle-based incense burner. Place the incense in a steel cup above the candle flame so that the leaves are heated from below but not directly lit.
