Is there anything better than a cup of tea, particularly now we are approaching fall?
For tea lovers, there is nothing more satisfying than a vast collection of leaves and bags, but an extensive assortment can often leave cabinets in disarray. Tea boxes are bulky and unsightly, and tins often sit half-empty or get forgotten about at the back of a cupboard.
Luckily, there are plenty of clever options for keeping your tea fresh, organized and accessible. So, if you’re organizing a kitchen and tending your tea collection, our professional organizers share their 8 top tea storage tips and solutions.
8 tea storage ideas to organize your inventory
1. Use a tea bag organizer
For those that wish to start simply and practically, a stackable tea bag organizer is the key to uncluttered kitchen cupboards. The first step is to categorize your teas, especially if you have a wide range, or want to distinguish your caffeinated tea from your decaf, so take out all your tea and sort it into sections.
Angela Rubin from Hellamaid advises, 'Sort them by type (black, green, herbal) or flavor (fruity, floral, spicy) to make it easier to find the tea you want without rummaging through your collection.'
Then your tea is ready for storage. Tea bag organizers come in various different sizes and designs, so there is something available for every kitchen.
‘The mDesign Tea Bag Organizer from Amazon is one of my favorite storage ideas,’ says Meaghan Kessman, professional organizer and founder of Meaghan Kessman Home Organization in Los Angeles, who specializes in creating functional and visually pleasing spaces. ‘These clear, stackable organizers keep tea bags visible and neat, and the compartments hold multiple tea bags, allowing you to easily see your selection.’
The stackable design will also help to maximize pantry and cabinet space, which is great if you’re organizing a small kitchen, and the clear plastic means you will know when to restock your favorite teas, to ensure you never run out again.
This product has eight generously sized sections, so can be used to store teabags and all of your tea-making essentials, such as creamers, mini milks, sugar, sweeteners and stirring sticks, meaning its great for taking on the go in RVs and campers, or for a college dorm room.
2. Use drawer dividers
Wondering what the best way to organize deep drawers is? If you already have an allocated drawer for your tea, but it usually winds up jumbled and disorganized, investing in drawer dividers is a great way to keep everything neat and tidy.
‘I am an avid tea drinker, so a well-organized area for tea is a must in my kitchen,’ says Jennifer Bell, professional organizer and owner of Bell House Organizing, who was inspired to start her business after working with friends and family that struggled to keep their spaces organized and clutter free.
‘For drawer space, I recommend using bamboo drawer dividers, such as the Utoplike Bamboo Kitchen Drawer Dividers from Amazon. You can install these easily to fit either the width of the tea bags or the width of the tea tin.’
This way you can keep your teas stashed away in a drawer, saving valuable counter space, while still being easily able to see the teas you wish to access.
3. Use airtight containers for loose leaf tea
Loose leaf can be trickier to store than teabags, particularly as it usually comes in larger quantities and needs to be kept cool and dry to preserve the freshness of the tea, so airtight containers are a great option.
'Tea is sensitive to light,' explains Angela Rubin, owner of Hellamaid, 'so it's best to store it in opaque containers or in a dark cabinet to protect it from sunlight. Tea is also sensitive to temperature and humidity, so store in a cool, dry place away from heat sources and moisture.'
Similarly, moisture can degrade the tea leaves, causing them to become limp or even moldy. Keeping tea in airtight containers is key to ensuring their longevity and quality, especially if you buy tea in bulk.
Kevin Connors, professional organizer and owner of Inspired Organizers, based in Phoenix, is an expert at organizing teas. ‘I spend a lot of time organizing kitchens,’ he says. ‘And teas are one of the most fun kitchen staples.’
Connors recommends using Trisco’s Tea Tin with Airtight Double Lids for Loose Leaf Tea Storage from Amazon.
‘The labels look great, and white, silver or gold metallic pens can be used to identify different tea varieties,’ he says. ‘The lettering really pops when it matches the color of the rooms main color palette,’ meaning you can display your tea stylishly and sleekly, in keeping with the rest of your kitchen, while implementing a labeling system will keep your loose leaf teas organized and identifiable.
These can then either be displayed on the counter top or put away in a cabinet for easy access, and also work well if you're after pantry organization ideas.
4. Display in a wall mounted rack
If you have an enviable tea collection, you might want to make it a feature of your kitchen and display it on your wall.
‘The MyGift Metal Tea Box from Wayfair is perfect for saving counter or cabinet space,’ says Kessman. ‘This wall-mounted organizer has individual tea bag slots for accessibility and display. Ideal for small kitchens, it combines functionality with a chic design, adding a unique decoration element.’
This will also keep your tea out of the way if you're organizing kitchen countertops.
This product is easy to install with simple hardware, and can be mounted to the wall, cabinet or pantry door
5. Use a tiered spice rack
If you find it easier to see and access all of your tea collection when kept in original packaging, or want to store your tea on existing shelving, using a tiered spice rack is a great display and space-saving tip from Bell to ensure you can see what you’ve got and keep your teas from becoming disorganized and messy. There are a few different options, too, so you can tailor it to your personal storage needs.
‘For tea lovers that choose cabinet storage, I recommend re-purposing a tiered spice rack, such as the Bamboo Spice Rack Organizer from Amazon, to store your boxes of tea or loose leaf tea storage bins,’ she says.
This is a handy tip to maximize on storage and save you purchasing additional storage containers if you have limited space or budget, as you can re-purpose something once used for organizing spices.
6. Decorative tea storage
Particularly if you store your tea on hand on your kitchen countertops or shelves, adding a decorative element to your tea storage can elevate your space and inject color and pattern into your kitchen. Choose designs that suit your style, whether this is modern, rustic, or charming traditional methods of tea storage such as wooden tea boxes or apothecary-style containers such as the gorgeous Enjoy Bistro Tile Canister from Anthropologie.
You can find intricately designed tea canisters that not only serve the functional purpose of preserving tea but also add an element of elegance to your tea storage, or if you have an array of beautiful tea leaves, why not display them in glass jars to showcase your beautiful tea variety? These can be displayed on a dedicated shelf or drawer. You can find JoyJolt glass storage containers at Wayfair, which are rated 4.8 stars.
'If you have a larger tea collection, a vintage tea trolley can be an excellent storage and display option,' suggests Vitaliy Vinogradov, interior designer and project manager at Modern Place. 'Vintage tea trolleys often have multiple levels and compartments, allowing you to store teas, teapots, cups, and other tea accessories in one place while adding a charming and nostalgic touch to your space.'
This beautiful convenient tea storage pot can also be used for storing smaller items, such as sugar, coffee, or biscuits, and is perfect to add some color and texture to your shelves. There are lots of matching items in this collection including butter dish and plates.
7. DIY tea storage
Punteha van Terheyden, Head of Solved at Homes & Gardens, is a big tea drinker, having grown up in a Persian household, and has devised a DIY tea storage solution that is both affordable and eco-friendly.
She says, 'I have lots of loose-leaf teas and these can easily lose their aroma if not kept in an air-tight lid. I have a couple of matching bamboo lid glass containers for the teas I go through a lot of, including my creamy Earl Gray, but for the rest, I save glass jars that had pasta sauce or other cooking items in from the store to DIY my own tea storage.'
Punteha washes them out, removes any exterior labels, which can be done by soaking in warm soapy water, and fully air dries them to make sure no moisture remains.
She adds, 'I then do a sniff test to see if any aroma of the food remains. If so, I soak the jar and lid in hot soapy water with a splash of white vinegar so my loose leaf tea isn't contaminated. Once the water has cooled, I wash again and air dry. This should remove any smell,' which could affect the taste and longevity of your tea.
After this, Punteha paints the lids with the same leftover paint she uses elsewhere in her kitchen so the lids are uniform, and matches the rest of her space, even if the glass jars are different sizes. 'I also add a label to the jar so I know what's inside as I have a lot of tea,' she says.
This DIY tea storage is budget-friendly, but also good for the planet as you're reusing jars that often end up in landfill and giving them a new lease of life.
8. Stack vertically on counter
Finally, if you like to keep your tea out on the counter but want to save space, storing them vertically is the perfect solution.
‘For those who like their teas to be store on the kitchen counters, I recommend a vertical tea organizer, like the YouCopia TeaStand Tea Bag Organizer with Clear Removable Bins,’ says Bell. ‘This tea organizer can hold 120 standard size tea bags, so it’s a great option for small kitchens with limited drawer or cabinet space.’
It’s also convenient as it can slot into small spaces which often go unused, and will look sleek and attractive, making it easy to see and grab your tea.
The removable bins on this tea stand are top-rack dishwasher safe, so cleaning them is quick, easy and convenient
FAQs
What is the shelf life of tea?
Generally speaking, most teas will be fine to keep and drink from six months to a year after purchasing. However, some teas, such as aged blends, may taste better with time, while herbal teas or teas with flavoring oils may have a shorter shelf life, particularly if stored incorrectly.
How do you keep tea fresher for longer?
When it comes to keeping your tea bags fresh, storage is key. Protect your blends by keeping them away from light, moisture, heat and air by storing in airtight, opaque containers in a cool, dark place, like a cabinet or pantry, or a shady spot on your countertop. Keep tea bags away from cabinets above your oven or hob space as the heat could ruin them. You can find specialty vacuum-sealed tea storage containers designed specifically for this purpose.
Also, keep your tea away from anything else which is strongly scented, as this may alter the taste.
Once you've perfected your tea storage solution, you can turn your attention to how to make tea for a perfect brew.
