Usage of spent tea leaves: A new narrative

• Published in: Tea in Health and Disease Prevention
• Main Author: Sagar N.A.; Pathak M.; Singh R.; Seow E.-K.; Chinchkar A.V.; Sharma M.
• Format: Book chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2025
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85209017264&doi=10.1016%2fB978-0-443-14158-4.00070-1&partnerID=40&md5=fc686826295b527257e06ae3604ac937

After liquor extraction from the processed tea leaves, underutilized waste named spent tea leaves (STL) are produced. Essential amino acids, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, theobromine and caffeine, polyphenols, and minerals, including Mg, Mn, Ca, P, and K are all abundant in STL and may be used to produce a variety of industrially significant products. The bioconversion of STL to a useable form is now accomplished by the use of fermentation, anaerobic digestion, silage preparation, vermicomposting, and other low-cost techniques. After a sufficient bioconversion, structural, morphological, and chemical modifications allow STL to be used in the creation of biopolymers, biofuels, catechin derivatives, charcoal, absorbents for dye, and the elimination of heavy metals. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved including those for text and data mining AI training and similar technologies.