Tips + tricks: Tea bags as a barbecue lighter
Summer is here! And with it comes the question that has been hotly debated for thousands of years: What's the best way to light the barbecue? Or: What is the best barbecue lighter?
My favourite barbecue lighter
I am happy to contribute to this epic discussion. My favourite: used and re-dried tea bags as a barbecue lighter.
It's no secret. I love efficiency. Compact guide, that contain the essentials. And environmentally friendly things, that you Use multiple times can. For example, tea bags.
They're not actually super ecological, with bags, clips, ribbons and labels that are sometimes adorned with a profound saying like: Be yourself. That's why I prefer to get fresh mint from my „garden“ in summer. And when I make a pot of tea, I prefer to use loose tea and a tea strainer.
Tea bags as barbecue lighters
But during the long construction period on a ship that was always dusty, tea bags were more practical than the ingredients for fine tea ceremonies. And fresh mint didn't grow where I lived back then. As we also had to carry all the rubbish 500 metres to the nearest bin, we got inventive.
Two or three dried tea bags get the fire going in the fireplace quicker than laboriously stacked paper balls or mini piles of rice dough. They also work well for barbecues. And there's nothing wrong with a steak with a hint of peppermint flavour or dried herbs at a barbecue.
How it works - use tea bags as a grill lighter
- Squeeze out excess water after use
- Dry in the sun or (in winter) on the radiator
- Wait until they are really dry
- (if necessary, soak with oil or rub with candle residue)
- Place several under the coals on the grill
Voila - you have the cheapest - and in my opinion the best - barbecue lighter in the world.
Does anyone disagree? Happy barbecuing and I look forward to your comments.
