As a Licensed Tea Specialist, I’ve loads of tea. Some are loose-leaf, some are bagged, some are powdered; I’ve leftover baggage from tea lessons I took, and remainders of choices I really like however am rationing out so I don’t have to purchase extra instantly. And till final night time, it was all stuffed into two bins in a jumbled mess on my countertop, alongside my steeping instruments, my AeroGardens, and a smattering of cords for various small home equipment. After the umpteenth time of shifting a bunch of stuff out of the best way to entry my tea, I spotted it was lastly time to do one thing about it.
I spoke to skilled organizer Jean Prominski of Seattle Sparkle to see easy methods to rearrange my ever-growing assortment. My largest concern was that the gathering wanted to be simply accessible; I drink tea every single day, often a number of sorts of tea in in the future. I had an empty shelf in a kitchen cupboard, nevertheless it was the highest shelf — and I can’t attain that with no step stool. Needing a step stool a number of instances a day simply to make some tea? No, thanks!
The Professional Organizer’s Greatest Tea Storage Suggestions
Earlier than discovering a brand new location, although, Prominski had some ideas. She advised I weed out some teas I didn’t need or didn’t like first, which wasn’t a problem as a result of I did that just some weeks in the past in an try to arrange the mess myself. I additionally had some random bottles of important oils saved with the tea, so we determined to maneuver these to be able to unencumber some extra actual property. Subsequent, Prominski advisable consolidating a number of the tea by mixing them collectively to make new blends. As a lot as I believe it’s a fantastic concept, I made a decision in opposition to that one — I like having the choice and the power to select and select what I would like.
We went forwards and backwards a bit about whether or not to retailer my tea assortment on the counter, the place it was taking over priceless (and valuable!) counter area, or rearranging the cupboard to have the tea on the underside shelf. I ended up selecting the cupboard. I moved all my pickling and baking stuff up a shelf so I may simply entry my tea.
On Prominski’s suggestion, I grabbed a shelf riser and a few smaller storage bins from Goal. She additionally thought a tiered storage shelf may work, however that didn’t work for my assortment as a result of it’s not in small, simply stackable containers — and, to be trustworthy, I’m too lazy to decant every thing into such containers. But when that’s extra your pace, it’s best to attempt it!
For many tea collections, Prominski recommends sorting it into classes, both by your favorites, by sort of tea, or by the way it’s packaged. Any half-full containers of bagged tea needs to be consolidated, and if it’s a tea bag that isn’t wrapped, put these in an hermetic container. For mine, we opted for organizing it by sort of tea. I put the baggage of loose-leaf tea into bins that match beneath the brand new shelf riser in my cupboard, and lined up canisters subsequent to them. On prime of the shelf riser, I put the loose-leaf steeper baggage and instruments. I had room subsequent to it for my sizzling chocolate assortment, too! I have to maintain the tea within the unique container more often than not so I can see what it’s as a specialist, however in case you have the same problem and really feel so moved to get matching containers and create your individual labels, go for it!
This morning, I made tea with the brand new setup for the primary time. (Caramel chai black tea, in case you have been questioning.) I’m completely happy to say it was fairly the success! This explicit cupboard can be proper subsequent to my mugs and my sink, so I didn’t want to maneuver across the kitchen as I heated up the water in my mug and stuffed my steeping bag with tea, which is a good factor for somebody who isn’t a morning particular person in any respect till a fast cuppa!
Purchase: Bamboo Stackable Helper Shelf, $14
This submit initially appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: This Professional Organizer’s “Golden Rule” Perpetually Modified How I Retailer Tea
Supply: Condo Remedy
