For this week, we’re highlighting the Green Tea Sand Soap I made last week. Sand soap is very popular around here for cleaning off the dirt and grime we cover ourselves in while playing in the gardens, repairing the homestead, and working in the garage. The picture above was while the bars were being cut and you can still see the swirling from when it was poured into the mold.
What on earth would possess me to add sand or green tea to my soaps? Well, I don’t do it for all the soaps and I can’t honestly claim the idea of either to be my own invention. I know a few mechanics and construction workers and they know I make soap. One day during a conversation, someone brought up the old Lava soap hand scrub they used to use and how they’d had problems with finding it or a good replacement. The substitute ones used at work weren’t doing the job anymore. My gardening friend also lamented about the ground-in dirt from her spending all day working hard. Long story short, I was fascinated with the idea of making a mechanic’s scrub for them that was gentle enough for the gardener’s mature skin. I have mentioned before I’m a researching geek, right?
I spent a bit of time pouring over old recipes I could get my hands on, info on degreasing skin without stripping or destroying it, and testing different recipes built from my notes. I created a soft scrub like they asked and I was on top of the world. My hubby here discovered it also removed the mess off of him he had made while doing home repairs. I was a happy girl! Then came the best sand I had ever felt from a fellow local soaper named Denise. She had the finest, softest sand I had ever played with and she had made her sand soaps into hard bars. (Yeah, I played in the dirt as a kid. Occasionally still do as an adult!) It meant tweaking the recipe for me to do it but it was so worth it. Now, we offer both a soft scrub and the firmer bars for you to choose from. Denise, thank you again and again!
I do use real green tea in this soap, as usual for any of our tea soaps. The water for the lye solution was replaced with extra-strong tea that had been brewed the day prior and allowed to cool overnight. The tea provides a little color to the soaping pot so I didn’t add any more color to this batch. It has also added a light scent that the boys here deemed “manly enough” to pass muster. These bars are a minimum of 6oz each and there are a few still available that are over 7oz. Email me soon if you want them though because these are going fast. I do get asked about the health benefits of using green tea soap and I have to be honest in my answer. It is widely known that green tea is awesome for your body- as a drink. How much of the antioxidant power survives the soaping process is still being debated. I would love to think that washing in this soap will provide all the same benefits but the jury is out still. To be safe, I have to say that it won’t cure those health problems you might want addressed any more than sleeping with your calculus book under your pillow allowed you to absorb everything for midterms in school, you know? I will say that I do love how it feels on my skin though!
I will now sign off for the week so that I can go clean the soap pot. Up next week will be some of the other soaps that are on the rack with many more pictures. I hope that you and yours have had a safe week and enjoy your Labor Day weekend. For our readers who are military, both active and retired, I wish to say thank you. For our parent readers, especially the moms who understand that some labor never ends, may you enjoy at least a few minutes of peace and rest!
Happy Washing!
Dorothy
