The storage of tea is a matter that cannot be ignored or taken lightly. As a dried product, tea is prone to mildew when it gets damp, and it has strong adsorbability and is extremely likely to absorb strange odors. Moreover, most of the aroma of tea is the technological aroma formed during processing, which is easy to disperse naturally or deteriorate due to oxidation. Therefore, tea that cannot be consumed in the short term needs a suitable “shelter”. The “miracle tea storage device”, the tea caddy, has thus emerged. There are a variety of materials used to make tea caddies.
So, what are the differences between tea caddies made of different materials? And what types of tea are they suitable for storing?
In addition, the exterior designs of various tin tea canisters on the market are also very exquisite. They can be said to have both practical and collection values. Tin tea canisters are also suitable for storing green tea, yellow tea, oolong tea, and white tea. Moreover, due to their beneficial properties, they are more suitable for storing relatively expensive teas.
Prices of pottery and porcelain tea canisters: Moderate. Airtightness: Good. Pottery and porcelain tea canisters have beautiful appearances and a strong literati atmosphere. However, due to the manufacturing process, the airtightness of these two types of tea canisters is not very good, and the lids do not fit tightly with the mouth edges. In addition, due to the materials, pottery and porcelain tea canisters have a most fatal problem, that is, they are not durable and are at risk of breaking if not handled carefully. Therefore, they are more suitable for appreciation and play. Pottery tea canisters have good air permeability of the material and are suitable for white tea and Pu-erh tea that will change in the later stage. Porcelain tea canisters are delicate and elegant, but their materials are airtight and are more suitable for storing green tea. Prices of purple clay tea canisters: High. Airtightness: Good. Purple clay and tea can be said to be natural partners. Brewing tea with a purple clay teapot “neither takes away the aroma nor has the smell of overcooked soup”. This mainly benefits from the double-porous structure of purple clay. Therefore, purple clay teapots have always had the reputation of “the best tea set in the world”. Therefore, tea canisters made of Yixing purple clay have good air permeability. When used to store tea, they can keep the tea fresh and disperse and volatilize the strange and miscellaneous tastes in the tea, making the tea mellow and delicious and the color as fresh as new. However, the prices of purple clay tea canisters are relatively high, and they are also not resistant to falling. Coupled with the chaotic market, the raw materials used may very likely be foreign mountain clay or chemical clay. Therefore, tea lovers who are not familiar with purple clay are advised not to buy. Purple clay tea canisters have good air permeability, so they are also suitable for storing white tea and Pu-erh tea that need to be in contact with air for continuous fermentation. However, when using purple clay tea canisters to store tea, relatively thick cotton paper should be placed on both the top and bottom of the purple clay pot to prevent the tea from getting damp or absorbing strange smells. In addition, there are also silver and lacquer tea canisters, but their cost-effectiveness is not very high, so they will not be introduced in detail here.
