April 28th, 2021 | Updated on December 10th, 2021
Tea is a popular beverage in many cultures worldwide. This means that you will most likely find different types of teas in most home pantries.
Having different types of teas means that you may need some special types of storage to help you keep the tea fresh and fit for human consumption.
If you buy tea from tea retailers or online tea and coffee shop, you will most likely need additional storage techniques because the tea comes in sachets or small cartons, in the case of tea bags. This article is about how you can stock your pantry with tea bags and loose tea.
1. How To Store Tea Properly
If you purchase tea in bulk, you may need enough space and additional techniques to store it safely. Additionally, some people use different types of teas for different needs.
For example, you can have white tea, black tea, green tea, Oolong tea and many more in your pantry. People who purchase tea from online retailers like Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee may want to try the different teas displayed on their pages. For example, white tea, which was rarely used outside China, is gaining popularity in the west.
Improper tea storage can lead to loss of flavors or cause spoilage, especially for fruity blends and fermented teas. These teas can develop harmful bacteria if not stored correctly. Below are some tips for proper tea storage.
2. Keep The Tea Away From Water
Always ensure that your stored tea is away from water, humidity or moisture. You should also not use a wet spoon to scoop some tea leaves from its container.
3. Keep Your Tea Away From Sunlight
Sunlight and tea are worst enemies. You should store all the pouches with your tea in dark and cool places. This means that the perfect spot for tea storage in your pantry is where there is no reach of direct sunlight.
4. Use Airtight Containers
You should store your loose tea leaves in airtight containers to avoid losing its flavor. The containers should remain closed unless when scooping out some tea leaves.
5. Avoid Storing Your Teas Near Strong Odors
Since most pantries contain numerous cooking products, there may be some products with strong odors, like spices. Therefore, it is advisable to ensure that your tea storage location is far from such products because tea is absorbent.
6. Best Storage Ideas For Loose Leaf Tea
Storing loose tea can be a headache as you may be required to transfer it from the packaging you bought it with if you want to store it safely. Below are some top loose tea storage ideas that you can incorporate in your pantry.
7. Buy Some Proper Stackable Tea Canisters
Since you need maximum space utilization in your pantry, stackable tea storage containers are a good tea storage idea.
Instead of using a single large container, you can use several small containers for a single type of tea because they will have less air, thus keeping your tea fresh for a longer time.
8. Use Transparent Jars
Having small jars stacked together will improve the aesthetics of your pantry, plus they are readily available in the market at affordable prices.
However, you should ensure that the transparent jars are in the darkest part of your pantry to protect the leaves from exposure to sunlight.
9. Buy A Small Fridge
Most teas do not require refrigeration, but people who use pure unflavored teas like pure green, back and oolong teas may need to use a fridge if they plan to use it after an extended period. However, you should not store the tea you are using daily in a fridge.
10. Buy Re-sealable Pouches
Having different teas in different containers of varying shapes and sizes can consume a lot of space in your pantry and make it look messy.
Using the resealable pouches will save you space and promote organization because you can arrange them using storage boxes.
11. Invest In A Tea Cupboard
If you find your pantry crammed, you can buy a tea cupboard and place it at the most preferred location in your kitchen.
The position should be cool and dark and away from windows, heaters, ovens and stoves. You can also use some compartments of the cupboard to store other tea accessories.
12. Use A Spice Rack
If the space in your kitchen is not enough to fit a tea cupboard, you can mount a spice rack at a perfect location in your kitchen.
Since spice racks have open storage spaces, you may be required to use non-transparent jars or find a cover for the rack. Additionally, you can look for a position that is cool and away from direct sunlight.
13. Best Storage Idea For Tea Bags
Since most consumers prefer purchasing this type of tea, there are varieties of options for storage. Unlike loose leaves, this type of tea comes individually packed, and the packages have a uniform size and shape, thus eliminating the need to look for options that protect it from exposure to light and air. Below are some top storage ideas for tea bag users.
14. Use Tea Bag Storage Organizer
This organizer eliminates the need for storing the tea using the cardboard boxes that you bought them with. Storing the pouches alone instead of using the boxes will help you save space in your pantry and increase organization. Your tea bag organizer can be a rectangular plastic container or a wooden box.
15. Buy A Tea Bag Stand
A tea bag stand is a great organization idea if you wish to showcase the varieties to your guests. This will help them easily identify the flavor they would like to drink. The organizer can fit in your pantry, or you can have it strategically installed in your kitchen.
16. Use A Drawer
If your pantry has some drawers, you can put the pouches in containers and arrange them inside the drawer. Since you don’t need to protect the tea pouches from air, you can use narrow containers without a lid.
