TEA CADDIES PAGE 2

Tea Caddies, Tins and Jars

A high-quality tea caddy is an essential investment for any tea lover. It will protect your tea from moisture, sunlight and odours, all of which will negatively impact the quality of your tea.

All out caddies, tins and jars are made from non-contaminated materials so the only flavour in your cup will be the flavour you choose; the tea!

Not only are tea caddies the perfect storage solution but with the beautiful and varied range we have on offer, you are sure to add a bit of style and sophistication to your home.

Our Range of Tea Caddies, Tins and Jars

We have plain and single coloured as well as patterned and embossed caddies in modern and more traditional styles.

Our plain and single coloured caddies come in different shapes and sizes offering you the option of adding your own label, some even have a rewritable chalk panel making it easy for you to easily identify which tea in each caddy on your shelf.

The neutral styles suit those of us with a minimalist modern feel to our kitchens and make a great present for someone whose style you’re not quite sure of.

Our patterned and embossed caddies come in a large range of styles from ultra-modern with a cheeky twist to Globally influenced styles perfect for storing your teas all of which have been sourced from around the world. 

Style Inspiration

With styles inspired by Scandi décor, geometric patterns, traditional and modern Chinese and Japanese designs and vibrant African prints our selection really is a feast for your eyes.

All budgets have been catered for so there really is something for everyone. Our caddies can be bouught individually or as sets. 

If you prefer tea bags, we also have teabag storage and display boxes; perfect for and very popular in cafes, restaurants and hotels. 

Have a browse. You won’t be disappointed!

Keeping Your Tea Fresh

Stored fresh loose-leaf tea must avoid the following for ultimate freshness;

• Sunlight – It is advisable to store tea in darkness to prevent bright light from degrading the strength of the flavour as well as the aroma.
• Oxygen – It is a common myth that all moisture has been removed from loose leaf tea leaves so oxidisation wouldn’t be an issue. It is, however, very important to store tea in an air tight container to prevent the risk of oxidisation. This is especially important for fresher teas which have some moisture retention such as green teas.
• Heat – Our homes are often kept extremely warm through central heating systems. This can pose a threat to the freshness of your tea leaves if they are not stored correctly
• Odour – One of the most effective ways to protect the flavour and aroma of your tea is to store it well away from other strong flavoured or scented foods. Never store your tea anywhere near strong spices or herbs. Even other strong teas will affect the integrity of your tea so beware.
• Moisture – Moisture is bad for any dried food product, not least tea. Tea has been withered, rolled, oxidised, dried and packaged with the intention of providing the consumer with the perfect tea leaves for your cup. Why would you ruin this in an instance by letting it have contact with moisture? Tea must be stored away from the oven, kettle, and any other forms of moisture and humidity. This can be difficult in kitchens where moisture is inevitable, so a tea caddy really is the perfect answer.

A Brief History of Tea Caddies

Did you know the word caddy originated as catty or kati? It is a Malaysian term for a unit of 1 1/3 lb of tea and it is a small container with divisions for every day use. 

The importance of storing tea well to keep the leaves fresh has been known for hundreds of years.

The 17th Century

Tea has been drunk around the world for centuries and was first introduced to England from China in the 17^th Century. Tea, along with opium, was used as a trade product with great value and was therefore drunk in a ceremonial fashion.

Storage and transportation of tea had to be considered carefully as it was transported across continents on ships. Tea was originally transported in wooden vessels and the first wooden tea caddies were thought to have been in the 18^th century. They were in the style of wooden boxes with metal canisters inside.

Earlier tea containers are said to have been made from many different materials including glass, china, silver, enamel, wood and even straw.

Early caddies were often very ornate. The more ornate caddies were in the rococo style and had space for a caddy spoon, while others were more austere focusing solely on the practicalities of storage and transportation.

The 18th Century

As travel increased later in the 18^th century, understanding of different types of tea caddies increased. Those who travelled would create drawings and prints of their findings thus influencing preferences back in England. Tea caddies of different shapes and sizes were created as well as double and triple varieties. The caddies were then priced according to the craftsmanship, shape, decoration and the quality of the materials used.

The 19th Century

The 19^th century brought many changes in the transportation and consumption of tea. The government took a bold step in freeing up the importation of tea from India by withdrawing its monopoly over The East India Tea Company meaning that China was no longer the only country tea was imported from. Many more countries followed suit including African countries, the Americas and even New Zealand.

The huge increase in British tea consumption meant that tea caddies were growing in demand and popularity.

Tea Caddies - A Status Symbol

What remained clear for many years is that tea caddies were used as a status symbol and the quality of the craftsmanship and materials varied greatly. There are many elaborate and ornate caddies from all over the world which encapsulate a moment in time, style, design, engineering and architecture.

Our Offering

We can’t offer you a Burr Chestnut Regency caddy or a Brazilian Rosewood caddy with Mother of Pearl inlay. We are confident, though, that what we can offer is a beautiful, stylish high-quality tea caddy of the 21^st Century that you truly will love for many years to come.

What a rich history this seemingly humble little tea container really has!

The Perfect Gift

A lovely tea caddy or set of caddies is the perfect gift for any tea lover. It can be hard to choose gifts for loved ones, especially when you want to offer something with more of a personal touch. A set of caddies really is a thoughtful and personal gift.

Tea caddies make a lovely stocking filler or Secret Santa at Christmas Our large range has been carefully selected to cater for all preferences, budgets and styles. They come in different sizes from 500g to 100g so perfect for the home, cafes, hotels and restaurants.

Don't forget we offer a lovely gift wrapping service for your convenience and we can deliver directly to the recipient. 

Zero Waste

Improve your zero waste credentials with a lovely set of stylish tea caddies.

Have you, like many others, been influenced by the recent drive for zero waste?

Have you wondered how to improve your green credentials and significantly reduce the amount of waste you create?

Loose Leaf Tea

Well, if you drink loose leaf tea, in some ways you already have reduced your waste. Some supermarket tea bags contain plastic, not just in the packaging but in the actual tea bag itself. Loose leaf tea is totally waste free. It is compostable, and some teas can even be brewed more than once. Great for the planet as well as your purse!

Caddies and Storage Containers

Tea caddies and other quality containers are a fantastic way to store your loose-leaf tea and they can be used for other loose food items such as dried fruit, nuts, pulses, flour, rice, spices and much more. They can even be used in other areas around the house. What about storing cloths or soap bars in the bathroom, trinkets in the bedroom or living room? They’re even great for storing pet treats out of reach.

Our caddies and storage containers come in a wide range of styles so there really is something to suit all preferences.

Read more about Zero Waste here >>