Create a Stylish Tea Station in Your Kitchen

Credit: Flickr / Shandi Lee Cox

Heart tea? Then you’ll love these tips to make your kitchen tea friendly

Create a space for all things tea in your kitchen with these tips

Is your kitchen cupboard cluttered and overflowing with half-full boxes of tea? Always digging around to find the matching teacups for your guests?

Here are some tips for creating a handy little tea station with function and style.

1. Designate Space for All Things Tea

Image: Flickr / Alpha

First, decide where your tea station will go. You’ll either want a space at the end of your counter or a small table at same height as the counter.

A space with drawers or cupboards nearby is ideal. Be sure you set up your tea station near the sink; going back and forth with boiling water will be plain awkward.

2. Take Stock and Get Rid of Outdated Tea

Image: Flickr / Toshiyuki IMAI

Get rid of clutter, organize and purge your tea stocks.

Tea lasts for a long time, but not forever, depending on how it has been stored. So it’s time for those stray tea bags to be used up now or dumped. Get into a habit of using the older tea first to keep your tea collection fresh.

3. Dos and Don’ts for Tea Storage

Image: Flickr / Francois

Storage is extremely important when it comes to tea. Tea does not like the light, so to ensure quality and freshness, make sure you store tea in a relatively dark place. It’s great if you can tuck it away in a cabinet, if not, stick to non-transparent containers. Avoid dampness at all costs and never store different teas together as strongly scented teas (particularly spicy flavours) will quickly infuse lighter teas.

4. Store Your Tea in Style

Image: Flickr / Grannieskitchen

Think carefully about how you want to display your tea. If you’re able to keep your tea in a cabinet, away from direct light, glass jars with loose leaf tea inside look great and make it easy to find what you’re looking for.

If you can’t tuck your tea away, there are lots of funky looking non-transparent containers to choose from. Recycle containers of different sizes for a funky jumbled look, or purchase a set of metal canisters if you want a simple chic look.

5. Tea on Tap

Image: Flickr / Cooks and Kitchens

There are some gorgeous stovetop kettles out there, but an electric jug is the most energy efficient option.

If you are an avid tea drinker and don’t want to wait, hot water dispensers are the way to go. They are relatively cheap, small and compact, and you will fall in love with the convenience.

6. Become a Tea Collector

Image: Flickr / Jessie Terwilliger

Herbal? Green? Spice? There are so many great teas out there and everyone likes something different. So if you’re serious about your tea station, make sure you have a varied selection for your family and guests.

For inspiration, check out Silk Road, a wonderful community-focused tea company based in Victoria. Order online or, if you get a chance, drop in for a tea tasting and get your own special blend.

7. Fair Trade Tea

Image: Flickr / Steenbergs

For centuries, the tea industry has been rife with social and environmental problems, in an endless cycle of poverty and exploitation. However, these days there are so many fair trade tea options.

Purchasing fair trade tea guarantees that your cup is full of tea produced through fair trade partnerships with strict environmental and social standards. By buying fair trade tea you are ensuring that the workers get a fair wage and the fair trade premium you pay will help fund projects to improve the lives of tea growing communities.

8. The Perfect Tea Set

Image: Flickr / Lummmy

Whether you like polka dots, porcelain or handmade glazed pottery, the perfect tea set is out there for you. Once you’ve made your decision it would be a crime to hide it away.

Display your tea sets, including teapot, cups and saucers to add colour and style to your tea station and don’t forget about accessories, milk jugs, sugar bowls and honey pots.

Lydia Millett hails from New Zealand and has recently moved to Vancouver. She has an English literature degree and a diploma in creative writing.