1.
used tea leaves; spent tea leaves
Tea leaves that remain after brewing tea. In Japan, these are sometimes repurposed for cleaning, deodorizing, or as cooking ingredients rather than simply being discarded.
A compound of 茶 (tea) and 殻 (shell, husk, remains). The 殻 component conveys the idea of what is left over after the useful part has been extracted.
Common collocations
- 茶殻を捨てる: to discard used tea leaves
- 茶殻を乾かす: to dry used tea leaves
- 茶殻の再利用: reuse of tea leaves
- 茶殻で消臭: deodorizing with tea leaves
Cultural note
In traditional Japanese households, 茶殻 was not wasted. Common uses include scattering damp tea leaves on wooden floors or tatami before sweeping (to collect dust), placing dried leaves in the refrigerator or shoes to absorb odors, and even using them as a mild fertilizer for plants. Some modern recipes use 茶殻 as a cooking ingredient, such as in 佃煮 (simmered in soy).
Similar words
- 出がらし: spent leaves/grounds — broader term, used for tea, coffee grounds, and dashi ingredients that have been fully extracted
- 茶葉: tea leaves — the leaves before or during brewing (not yet 'used')
Related Words
Compare:
茶葉 (tea leaves)