DIY Gift Idea: Tub Tea

I have to admit, the rampant consumerism that comes along with gifting holidays can start to edge out those feelings of goodwill, family togetherness, and celebration! For many years now, I’ve been attempting to practice a slower, simpler way of celebrating holidays, which includes making handmade gifts to give to family and friends. I’m especially fond of “consumable” gifts. Most people I know have more than enough “stuff” in their homes, so I love giving gifts that the receiver can use up, like mixes for baked goods, a gourmet “dinner in a basket” with all the ingredients to make a decadent meal, or bath products like soaps and bath bombs.

The perfect Numi-inspired consumable gift? Tub tea! Tub tea is just like bath salts or a bath soak, but contains loose, dried herbs and tea. Because loose herbs can be quite messy in a bathtub (and wreak havoc on your poor bathroom drain), tub teas are usually contained in a small bag (or tea ball) that “steeps” in your tub.

Tub Tea is an especially perfect gift for the health-conscious person on your list, who will be sure to recognize the healing ingredients in each jar or packet!

Here are three of my favorite tub tea combinations- each with just a few ingredients and so simple to whip up in just a few minutes.

Chamomile Oatmeal Soak

1 cup dry oatmeal (ground to a course powder in a blender or food processor)
1 cup Epsom salts
4 heaping tablespoons Chamomile Lemon Tea (or contents of 6 Chamomile Lemon Tea bags)
10 drops chamomile essential oil (optional- I enjoy the extra boost of chamomile scent, since Chamomile isn’t as strongly scented as other teas)

White Rose Milk Bath

1 cup Epsom salts
Contents of 6 White Rose Tea bags
1 cup powdered milk

Green Tea Detox

1 cup bentonite clay
1 cup Epsom salts
4 heaping tablespoons Jasmine Pearls Tea (or contents of 6 Jasmine Green Tea bags)

Measure ingredients, then layer in a pint jar with a tightly-fitting lid. You can also choose to mix all ingredients thoroughly and skip the layers!

Gift along with a simple muslin or cotton bag (easy to DIY, or available online or at your local craft store). Alternately, you could include a tea ball with the gift.

Make sure to include following instructions:

Before using, shake or stir jar to combine ingredients. Place 1/2 cup of mixture in a cotton bag or tea ball and allow it to “steep” in hot bath water.

You can download printable labels here. Print on cardstock, punch a whole in the top of the tag, and attach to your jar of tub tea with twine, ribbon, or string!