Water Solutions

[Roxy25]

I was reading in one of my books and it says you can use different types of water example distilled water or rose water.

Does anyone use Tea water ? does the heat from the lye destroy the properties of the tea ?

 

[xyxoxy]

I have made a WONDERFUL soap using very strong red Rooibos tea for the lye mixture. Gelled it comes out a dark brick red and ungelled it comes out kinda peachy colored.

I can't honestly tell you if the lye negatively affected the healing properties of the tea (some people say it does) but I can tell you everyone I gave it to loves it. I used a light spiced fig FO and I left in a small amount of the tea leaves which most people describe as "slightly scratchy... but in a good way".

You can also infuse your oils with tea leaves which may help preserve some of the healing properties... but they will still be introduced to the lye.

 

[Roxy25]

I have made a WONDERFUL soap using very strong red Rooibos tea for the lye mixture. Gelled it comes out a dark brick red and ungelled it comes out kinda peachy colored.

I can't honestly tell you if the lye negatively affected the healing properties of the tea (some people say it does) but I can tell you everyone I gave it to loves it. I used a light spiced fig FO and I left in a small amount of the tea leaves which most people describe as "slightly scratchy... but in a good way".

You can also infuse your oils with tea leaves which may help preserve some of the healing properties... but they will still be introduced to the lye.

Thanks for the reply I was looking into powdered extracts also I will try a few and see how I like it.

 

[Lindy]

I need to try that one - I keep looking at the Rooibos teas at the stores - soon - soon...

 

[kaseencook]

I make soap with mainly canola oil, and because it oxidizes and turns yellow I have to use tea high in antioxidants (along with some other things like oat flour), like green tea and oolong tea. The lye obviously breaks down the tea cells as they are organic, but the antioxidant properties, in my opinion, are not compromised as the teas do a great job of preventing oxidization. So the lye may not be entirely damaging to the healing properties and chemicals in the tea leaves, although it looks gruesome.

 

[xyxoxy]

I need to try that one - I keep looking at the Rooibos teas at the stores - soon - soon...

I've read some great things about the healing properties of Rooibos and would one day like to try it in lotions and other things where it is less likely to lose any potency.

Next time you pass it in the market, buy some! You can always drink it. It's one of my favorite wintertime hot beverages.

 

[ChrissyB]

Mickey that sounds like lovely soap. Do you have any pics you could post?

 

[xyxoxy]

I posted some just after Christmas on page 2 of this thread...
http://soapmakingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6939

I don't think the pics do it justice though. I could take a few lessons from others on here.[/url]

 

[Lindy]

Just got back from grocery store and I happen to have some of that tea!

 

[ewenique]

I just made my first batch and used a Tazo Passion tea infusion for the water. It was a deep pink/raspberry color. It was pretty cool to see the reaction as the lye was added. The infusion turned green, then a burnt orange color. I used the CPOP method - put the molds in the oven with just the light on for 7 hours, then cooled in the oven for several more before pulling the molds out. The finished soap is a pale peach color with red speckles from the paprika that I added at trace. Very pretty soap for my first attempt at making soap.

 

[xyxoxy]

OOOH! Can't wait to see them!

 

[starduster]

Congratulations

I just made my first batch and used a Tazo Passion tea infusion for the water. It was a deep pink/raspberry color. It was pretty cool to see the reaction as the lye was added. The infusion turned green, then a burnt orange color. I used the CPOP method - put the molds in the oven with just the light on for 7 hours, then cooled in the oven for several more before pulling the molds out. The finished soap is a pale peach color with red speckles from the paprika that I added at trace. Very pretty soap for my first attempt at making soap.

That is good news to all our soaping ears.