Whether you love herbal tea, chamomile tea, oolong tea, or green tea, it's essential to store all your favorite tea properly to prevent damage. That's where tea storage boxes come in. There are a plethora of tea boxes out there, and you can test different ones to know which one is right for you, or you can skip the hassle altogether and benefit from our list and buying guide. We'll examine all you need to know about tea storage and tea chests!
Why You Should Store Tea in a Tea Storage Box
No matter how expensive or precious, tea bag stashes will likely deteriorate if they don't have proper storage space. Taste is of the utmost importance for tea lovers. Since the rich tea experience is what tea lovers want, it's essential to store tea the right way. Here are a few reasons why you should store tea properly.
Freshness, flavor, and nutritional value
The beverage has its roots back in China for its medicinal advantages. Back then, fresh tea leaves were boiled in water to extract the rich flavor from each leaf. Nowadays, tea comes in dried tea leaves placed within a tea bag. Additionally, tea bags, like tea leaves, need to remain fresh to offer the most soothing experience. If tea bags are kept in the open they'll likely lose freshness. Additionally, like with freshness, some medicinal teas' flavor and nutritional value are of great importance too. Improperly stored tea bags can result in the loss of their ideal flavor as well as their nutritional benefits. That is why investing in a good-quality storage box is paramount to preserving the freshness and flavor of your tea.
Perfectly organized and easily accessible
Who doesn't like neat and well-organized spaces? Organized and sorted tea bags can be a dream for tea lovers the world over. Investing in a high-end tea storage box gives you the space you need to organize all your tea stashes neatly. And, at the same time, a tea box offers easy access as well.
Tea Storage: Things To Remember
Even in a storage box, it's common to lose the fresh taste of your warm beverage. This can be due to many reasons.
Light and humidity
While storing your tea bags, it's vital to keep them away from light and moisture. Light and water droplets can activate the enzymes present in tea. This breaks down the original components of the tea and may result in the loss of freshness and flavor. Ensure tea bags are kept in a cool dark place, not in front of direct light.
Oxygen
Another thing to remember is not to let your tea breathe. Letting air in your tea storage box will make the tea bags prone to absorbing the odors around them. This will result in them losing their fragrances as well as making the box and tea bags smell strange. Ensure that you invest in an airtight storage box for your favorite tea stash.
Insects
It's essential to keep insects away from tea. Different tea bags attract various insects. Once they get inside the tea storage box, they are hard to get rid of. Regular cleaning of your box can keep away any dust, allergens, and insects from your tea chest.
Temperature
Teabags, or tea leaves in general, need to be stored in a cool and dry place. The exact temperature varies. A rough average would be to keep it at 20-25⁰ C. Always keep the expiration date in mind since shelf life varies as well.
Other sachets
It would help if you kept your tea pile and coffee pile separate. This is because tea bags are prone to catching scents, and different coffee flavors or even spices can ruin the taste of perfectly balanced, well-preserved, and delicious tea leaves.
What To Look For in a Tea Storage Box?
When you purchase a storage box, there are a few features to keep in mind.
Good build
While investing in a tea storage box, ensure it has a good build. Even though tea bags don't weigh as much, the box must be sturdy. Flimsy boxes that are low in price as well as quality are never a smart choice. Opt for a durable piece.
Aesthetically pleasing
In the case of tea storage boxes, looks matter too. Since you'll most likely keep your box on display, it's optimal to have a piece with a sleek design and a neat finish. Go for something that has a natural wood tone. An amalgam of rustic yet modern can be a great fit everywhere. Furthermore, beautiful boxes can be the perfect gifts too.
Compartments
The number of slots varies from tea box to tea box. Some come with six slots and others come with eight. Most of them range from 4 to 12 compartments. More compartments can be a good choice owing to their design and space. This lets you place various tea sachets in their respective compartments.
Spacious
It would help if you also looked for boxes with considerable storage. The size should be neither too big nor too small. It should be large enough to store your tea pile but small enough to fit everywhere perfectly.
Window lid
It's better to opt for an airtight tea storage container with a transparent lid. Although the non-transparent options are not bad, a window lid can help showcase all your prized tea bags and it will make sorting tea bags easier.