Playdough Recipe Cooked in Tea
While traditional playdough recipes often use food coloring, there’s a unique twist that not only adds beautiful, natural colors but also enhances the sensory experience—playdough cooked in tea! This method using tea to make playdough offers soothing, light hues and a subtle aroma, making it an excellent choice for sensory play.
In this blog post, we’ll explore how to make playdough using tea as a natural dye, perfect for anyone looking to add an extra layer of creativity to their playtime routine.
We’ll guide you through how to make playdough using tea, giving your little ones a unique and enriching playdough experience.
Whether it’s the cool, earthy tones of black tea or the warm hues of hibiscus, these gentle colors can transform an ordinary cooked playdough recipe into something truly special, all while staying away from concentrated food dyes.
I’ll also list out for you the different colors various teas will create in your playdough.
So, gather your ingredients and get ready to elevate your playdough game with this natural dye solution. Here’s everything you need to know about creating your own batch of playdough cooked in tea.
This recipe comes from my Playdough Cookbook, which features over 45 no-repeat playdough recipes.
-
Product on saleSpecial Offer! – 45 Playdough RecipesOriginal price was: $10.00.$7.00Current price is: $7.00.
Many teas can be used to create beautiful colors and scents in playdough. Chamomile offers a soft yellow, peppermint gives light green tones, and hibiscus provides vibrant pinks or reds. Black tea results in rich brown hues, while rooibos adds warm reddish shades.
Choose teas based on the colors and scents you desire.
Yes, adding loose tea leaves can enhance the texture of the playdough, providing an interesting tactile experience. The leaves add visual appeal with their speckled appearance and can intensify the aroma, offering a richer sensory play experience.
Most tea flavors can be used, but it’s best to choose teas with colors and scents that you find pleasant. I recommend to play around with different flavors from a variety pack.
Why Make Playdough Using Tea?
Traditional playdough recipes use food coloring, but there’s a unique twist: playdough cooked in tea. This method provides natural colors and a subtle aroma, making it perfect for sensory play.
Here are some really good reasons while you should try it!
Scented Playdough Experience
- Using tea infuses the playdough offers calming, natural scents.
- Certain teas work especially well, like:
- Chamomile: Provides relaxation and a soothing aroma
- Peppermint: Offers an invigorating and refreshing scent
- Green Tea: Adds earthy tones and a mild, calming fragrance
- Rooibos: Brings warm, reddish hues and a sweet, comforting smell
- Hibiscus: Gives vibrant pink or red shades and a tart, floral scent
- Black Tea: Imparts rich brown hues and a robust, earthy aroma
- Fruit Teas (e.g., Peach): Adds bright colors and sweet, fruity fragrances
Natural Colors for Playdough
Different types of tea can create beautiful, natural hues in the playdough, offering a range of colors that are both appealing and soothing. Here are some examples of teas and the corresponding colors they produce:
- Chamomile: Produces a soft yellow hue
- Peppermint: Results in light green tones
- Green Tea: Creates a soft green color
- Rooibos: Provides warm, reddish-brown shades
- Hibiscus: Yields vibrant pink or red shades
- Black Tea: Imparts a rich brown color
- Fruit Teas (e.g., Peach): Can add bright, fruit-specific colors like light orange or pink
Texture Addition
Adding loose tea leaves to playdough not only enhances its natural colors and scents but also introduces an interesting texture. This added texture can provide unique sensory advantages:
- Enhanced Tactile Experience: The varied texture from the tea leaves offers a different feel compared to smooth playdough, stimulating the sense of touch.
- Visual Appeal: The tiny specks of tea leaves create a visually interesting pattern, making the playdough more engaging for children.
- Aromatic Depth: Loose tea leaves can intensify the aroma, offering a richer sensory experience. This post is a good example of a playdough recipe with loose tea leaves.
So, are you convinced yet as to why preschoolers might absolutely love this playdough recipe made with tea?
Playdough Recipe Cooked With Tea
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that at no cost to you, I may earn a small sum if you click through and make a purchase.
While traditional playdough recipes often use food coloring, there’s a unique twist that not only adds beautiful, natural colors but also enhances the sensory experience—playdough made with tea!
This method infuses the playdough with soothing, light hues and a subtle aroma, making it an excellent choice for sensory play, and for those looking for a more earthy and natural feel to playdough.
Ingredients
- flour
- salt
- cream of tartar
- cold water
- boiling water
- teabags (flavor of choice)
- oil
- 48 PACK TEA SAMPLER: Our BLUE RIBBON Twinings Tea Bags Sampler Assortment Variety Pack features 48…
- RICH VARIETY OF FLAVORS: Natural Green Tea, Lady Grey Tea, Honey bush & Mandarin Orange, Chai Spiced…
- CONVENIENT INDIVIDUAL BAGS: Each tea bag is individually sealed for freshness and convenience,…
- Herbal Tea Variety Pack: This fruit flavor herbal tea sampler includes 1 box each of Meyer Lemon,…
- Incomparable Quality: From herbal, black, and green to white, or oolong, our premium tea bags are…
- Find Your Flavor: With over 150 teas to choose from including loose leaf, iced tea, green tea,…
- Our Tea Bag variety contains 48 pack, all different flavors. Find your favorite!
- product arrives in a clear bag
Kitchen Supplies Needed
- medium saucepan
- wooden spoon
- measuring cups
- parchment paper or wax paper
- child tea set (optional)
- small cookie stamps (optional)
- Scratch Resistant Copper Coating – Made from thick gauge aluminum to provide even and quick heat…
- Stovetop Compatible – Our saucepan is induction capable and suitable for all cooking surfaces…
- Transparent Covering Lid & Ergonomic Handle – Heat resistant glass lid with steam vent makes…
- ECO-FRIENDLY NATURAL MATERIAL- Made by Phoebe Nanmu Wood. Each wooden soup spoon is grinded by hand…
- BEAUTIFUL DESIGN & UNIQUE GRAIN – Comfortable design with exquisite grain patterns. Wood Grain…
- EXQUISITE WORKMANSHIP & STURDY – 9 INCH LENGTH with 15g for each dinner spoons. Very Smoothly,…
- ULTIMATE MEASURING CUP & SPOON SET: Our 19-piece Ultimate Measuring Set is the all-inclusive…
- EASY TO READ: These cups & spoons feature long handles for more secure grip & easy to read standard…
- DISHWASHER SAFE: This set of 9 spoons & 10 cups are BPA free & dishwasher safe. Each set includes an…
How to Make Playdough Cooked in Tea
To start, brew a strong cup of tea by steeping a couple of tea bags or a few teaspoons of loose tea in boiling water for about 5-10 minutes. Once the tea is ready and has cooled slightly, set it aside.
In a medium saucepan, combine the dry ingredients. Whisk these ingredients thoroughly to ensure an even distribution.
Next, slowly add the brewed tea and oil to the dry mixture, stirring continuously. If you’d like to enhance the color, you can also add a few drops of food coloring at this stage, but I opted not too. I love and appreciate the softer tones of the natural dyes from the teas.
Add the cold water, too.
Heat it over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the mixture thickens and doesn’t stick to the sides of the pan anymore. It will naturally form playdough-like consistency and come together into a ball, which usually takes about 5-7 minutes.
Once the playdough has formed, remove the saucepan from the heat and let it cool slightly. After it has cooled enough to handle, knead the playdough on a clean surface until it becomes smooth and pliable.
For an extra sensory experience, you can mix in some loose tea leaves, adding a unique texture and visual appeal to the playdough.
Best Homemade Playdough Recipes
Making homemade playdough is a fun and creative activity that kids love. It allows you to customize colors, scents, and textures using simple household ingredients, making it a safe and affordable alternative to store-bought versions.
Here’s a list of some of our best homemade playdough recipes!
- Chocolate Playdough Recipe
- Quick Playdough Recipe Using Vinegar (instead of cream of tartar)
- Calming Oatmeal Playdough Recipe
- Super Soft Playdough Recipe
- Alum Playdough Recipe
- Vanilla Playdough Recipe
How to Make Playdough Last Longer
To make playdough last la long time, proper storage is crucial.
After each play session, ensure that the playdough is stored in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out. I even like to wrap to in plastic wrap before putting it into a container. Plastic containers with tight-fitting lids or resealable plastic bags work exceptionally well for this purpose.
It’s also a good idea to keep the playdough away from direct sunlight and heat sources, as these can cause the dough to dry out and lose its pliability.
Storing the container in a cool, dry place will help maintain the play dough’s consistency and prolong its usability. Additionally, if you notice the playdough starting to dry out, you can knead a few drops of water into it to restore its softness.
-
Product on saleSpecial Offer! – 45 Playdough RecipesOriginal price was: $10.00.$7.00Current price is: $7.00.
Playdough Cooked with Tea
While traditional playdough recipes often use food coloring, there's a unique twist that not only adds beautiful, natural colors but also enhances the sensory experience—playdough cooked in tea!
Materials
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup salt
- 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 cup boiling water
- 4-6 teabags (flavor of choice)
Tools
- medium size, glass, microwave safe bowl
- measuring cups and spoons
- mixing spoon
- parchment paper
Instructions
- Steep all four tea bags in a heat-proof bowl with the 1 cup boiling water. Set aside for at least five minutes.
- Add cold water to tea and set aside again.
- Meanwhile, in a medium sized saucepan, mix together flour, salt, cream of tartar and oil.
- Remove teabags from water and empty them into the flour mixture, whisking to distribute evenly. (Optional)
- Pour the tea solution over the flour mixture on the stovetop and heat over medium heat.
- Stir consistently until the mixture forms a ball and begins to pull away from the sides of the pan.
- Allow to cool enough to handle, then turn out and knead.
Notes
Try these tea flavors for a variety of colors.
- Chamomile: Produces a soft yellow hue
- Peppermint: Results in light green tones
- Green Tea: Creates a soft green color
- Rooibos: Provides warm, reddish-brown shades
- Hibiscus: Yields vibrant pink or red shades
- Black Tea: Imparts a rich brown color
- Fruit Teas (e.g., Peach): Can add bright, fruit-specific colors like light orange or pink
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
