That is a hilarious tale! I have tea-dyed fabrics for years with no ill effects. Keep up the good work. Guess you all need a vacation now.

Coffee works for tea staining, too.

I just wonder what's in it vs using tea or coffee to stain the fabric.

Years ago. I went to a local quilt show, where one of the local guilds had a tea stain challenge. It was very interesting..some were lighter, some were very dark(achieved by strength of tea and how long you soak). There is also a method where you soak the muslin, then sprinkle salt on it to give it a mottled look.From what I remember the ladies telling me at the time, it is "semi-permanant"...meaning, once it is rinsed, then dried, it will keep most of it's color, but just like some other dyed fabrics, will lose some color over time.

I tea dyed some curtains and when washed it all came out.
I noticed some "tea dye" color in Ritz dye I think it was some time ago. I don't know how it compares to the other product mentioned.

Did she pay you the other half of the money?? She should have and then some as you did her favor!!