roma
Tea Aromatizer
Building upon the tea making ritual to incorporate a stress free, easy to use repurposing method of steeped tea leaves.
6 Weeks, Fall 2023
RESEARCH
After water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world.
Worldwide consumption is approximately 6.3 million metric tons a year, making tea leaves a large contributor to food waste.
Tea making is a ritual.
Its mindful process promotes relaxation, while the tea itself offers proven physical and mental health benefits through its preparation, taste, and aroma.
How can we integrate the repurposing of tea leaves into its ritualistic process?
The possible uses of used tea leaves include but are not limited to:
GARDENING
AROMATHERAPY
CLEANING
COOKING/BAKING
RE-STEEPING
Despite all these possibilities, a large portion of tea is still relegated into food waste.
Why is that?
Due to the moist environment harboring bacteria and mold, users feel pressured to dispose of the tea leaves quickly after steeping.
DESIGN CRITERIA
Ritualistic
Extends the relaxing nature of the ritual, releaving pressure from the user.
Sustainable
Effectively repurposes tea leaves and uses sustainable materials.
Aromatherapy
Utilizes tea’s aromatic properties to enhance the tea making process.
MARKET EXPLORATION
AROMATIZERS
EXPERIMENTATION
Using heat to diffuse odors reduces moisture and prevents bacterial growth, thus removing the pressure to quickly dispose of tea leaves. Experiments testing different drying methods show air drying with steady, indirect heat yields good results.
