Return to T Ching Classics: Tea Storage

Moving is tough, especially if you’re a tea drinker.

Tea drinkers are likely to have a wide assortment of teas at home and a collection of delicate teaware.

But if you keep your tea spaces at least somewhat organized, moving can be easier.

I’ve moved three times within the past 4 years, and each time my tea haul has been lighter and easier to pack.

How do I move my tea so easily, now?

First, downsize! I had to say goodbye to some teaware and reduce how much tea I was carrying on the journey. It might take some courage to admit that tea has the potential to lose flavor and aroma over time, so hoarding is not an ideal situation. Drink your tea! Share it with friends! And say goodbye to any teaware pieces that you don’t exactly love.

Stop buying things you don’t need… unless it’s something you really, really, really want. I’m not joking when I say that in the second move, I had so much tea that I had to practice cutting myself off from tea shopping. It was for my own good. I want my cup, not my cupboards, to overflow. But my rule is: If it’s something I absolutely can’t let get away, like a doll head mug, or an unusual tea that I must try, then go for it!

Stay organized. I like a balance of stylish yet practical* when it comes to organizing my tea haven. *”Practical” with consideration that I’m a crazy tea person, not a regular tea person.

I keep a small assortment of every loose tea that I have on one shelf inside a cupboard. That way, my teas are visible and easily accessible, but still safe from light exposure. I store this assortment in small jars and food-grade bags, labeled with both name and date. And, I have a tea menu attached to the inner door of the cupboard!

My tea “backstock” is kept in decorative boxes, in a separate storage cupboard, organized by tea style. I’m also an herbalism student, so my herbs are organized in a similar fashion, but loosely alphabetically (A-L, and M-Z) and with a record of what’s “in stock”.

Above my tea shelf, I keep my most-likely-to-be-used mugs and teaware. The rest are safely stored in wooden cheese crates.

Since mostly everything is organized inside some type of box, moving is just a matter of stacking and transporting.

The key with moving your teaware is to consider the total weight of what’s packed together (cast-iron can get heavy), and the size of the container. I find that smaller boxes are best, and even better with built-in hand holes! Teaware is also easily transported cushioned inside of wooden wine boxes.

Now, if only moving my hoard of houseplants were as easy!

Images provided and coypright held by author