History

• Historians do not know when dyeing with tea began, but there is evidence that ancient people used herbs, roots, flowers and insects to color fabric. Natural products provided the only materials until the discovery of synthetic dye in the mid 1800s.
  
  

Types of Fabrics

• Natural fabrics made from protein fibers or bast fibers easily absorb dye and work best for tea dyeing. Wool and silk are examples of protein fibers. Protein fibers originate from animals such as sheep and silkworms. Bast fibers are part of the bark of certain plants such as cotton or flax. Flax is the source of linen fabric. Linen and cotton are a bit more resistant to the staining but still work well. Use tea staining on decorative household items, including tablecloths, napkins and doilies. Tea stained clothing will fade with frequent detergent washing.
  
  

Process

• Wash the fabric first to eliminate fabric sizing. Fabric manufacturers add a sizing finish to fabric to protect it. The sizing prevents the tea stain from absorbing completely. Prepare the tea stain by boiling one quart of water per yard of fabric and pouring it into a bucket large enough to hold your fabric. Add eight black teabags per quart. Steep the teabags for 30 minutes to make a strong brew. Stir the fabric and check frequently to determine if it has reached the level of color that you desire. Remember that the fabric will appear lighter after it has dried. Rinse until the water runs clear, then tumble dry on a high heat setting, or use an iron to set the color.
  
  

Tip

• Because tea staining is semi-permanent, you can reverse the process by bleaching or setting the fabric in the sunshine to fade.