The Stylish Way To Organize Tea In Your Kitchen

If you're a tea lover, you know how amazing it can be to build up a little collection. Loose leaf teas from places far away, your favorite local blend, and uniquely-flavored bags are all must-haves for tea connoisseurs. But between all of the individual sachets, boxes, and tins, it may be time to organize your collection. Tea organization is a necessity, but you don't need to go out and buy any specialty equipment. All you need are some glass jars with fitted lids and a tray to keep them organized. Transparent glass jars are the perfect tea containers because they're airtight, which keeps the tea fresher for longer. They can also be used for loose leaf teas as well as sachets and allow you to see which teas you have as well as how much you have left. You could also store other items like sugar in the jars as well.

Nearly any jar will work for this, so if you already have some Mason jars laying around, you can use those or buy a 12-pack of Ball Mason Jars and Lids from Amazon for $11. Alternatively, hit up your local thrift store to find cheap second-hand jars, or save glass condiment and pickle jars from the fridge. Even if you end up with more jars than you need for tea, there are plenty of clever ways to reuse old glass jars around the house, so they can definitely be put to good use. You'll also need a tray that can anchor the jars in your space, which you could thrift. Alternatively, find out how to complete a Dollar Tree tray DIY.

Before you store any tea in the jars, be sure to give them a good cleaning. This goes for both new and used glass jars to get rid of germs, packaging smells, and any food or grease residue. The easiest way to do this is by popping them in the dishwasher. Because you're just storing dry goods, you don't need to sanitize the jars like you would for canning, which is a much more labor-intensive process. Also make sure the jars are fully dry before you add your teas so they aren't exposed to moisture. 

After that, you're ready to decant your loose leaf teas and tea bags into your jars and place them on the tray. The only thing left to do is label the jars, because let's be honest, teas can all start to look alike when they don't have their original boxes and tins. You can order the Goyomi Label Stickers from Amazon for $9 that fit perfectly on jar lids and write the label yourself. There's also a trick to make chic home labels without a label maker. Or, you can write directly on the lids with permanent marker. You'll just rub the lid with wet steel wool when you're ready to switch the lid over and the ink should lift almost immediately. Along with the type of tea, be sure to write the expiration date if available. With all your teas labeled and in jars, you can now get your tea cupboard in order or show off your tea collection on your countertops.