tea bag storage

How to Store Tea bags/ Herbal Tea bag storage solution

got into drinking Tea bags only last year and now I love trying all different flavours and brands but if you are like me and you don't have much counter space or a spare cupboard to dedicate to the many different shaped tea storage containers then they can become quite a pain in the ass to store.

I went on a hunt for something to store my tea in. Preferably a shelve system or drawers but all I could find was the ones below which just didn't appeal to my needs especially the tea bag storage containers which are flat and have a lid that lifts up and can only store a few flavours- very pointless in my opinion. I like to have many flavours to choose from depending on what mood I'm in. Since I've stopped drinking alcohol herbal tea is my new healthy addiction.

My mind was seriously boggled with how hard it was to find something suitable then my sister mentioned a tool box for screws and bolts then it clicked that I had a similar type system for my jewellery which would be perfect and so I went and checked it out. It was perfect! The tea bags fit perfectly and it closes to keep them fresh, it keeps them separate and it looks funky and tidy.

All I had to do was make little storage containers squares , I made plenty for when I get new tea and the top bit has enough storage space so I can keep a dedicated pen and some blue tack there (yes I agree I have become slightly OCD with my tea storing issues) Anyway below you can see the types of regular storage systems and why I think they are rubbish. At the bottom you can check out my perfect little tea drawers and you can see it in my little kitchen. If you want to buy one you can get one here. The company Keter and model flip bin you can find here to go in search yourself. Also I would be interested to hear from other people who might have had this problem and I wonder how you store them?

Reference From : http://strawberryanarchy.blogspot.com

Plastic tea bags and storage

Plastic tea bags and storage

Reminder: fresh teas are best stored in a dry and cool place, without smells, little air and away from sun light.
The above blurry picture was taken from the inside of a silver tea bag like the one on the left hand picture. It shows that this kind of plastic tea bag lets some light through. This may harm very fresh and tender leaves like green tea or light Oolong. (For roasted teas, I don't think a little light won't matter much after all the heat they got through the roasting.)

Is it better to transfer the leaves to a tea box or tea jar then?       
Fresh teas are meant to be drunk at a quick pace, within a season or 2. That means that the volume of tea will diminish over time. You would have to constantly transfer the remaining tea in smaller and smaller containers to minimize the air inside your tea box/jar.
Plastic bags offer a more practical way to minimize the contact of tea leaves with air: just fold the bag tightly and clip it tightly closed. And then, in a second step, put this plastic tea bag in a box to block the light.
Note: Not all plastic bags let light through. This dark green and gold tea bag, for instance, is thicker and blocks all light.
By the way, I've bought this new, professional vacuum sealer this week. It will give me more flexibility to make tea samples.

Proper tea storage is imperative to the shelf life, quality and flavor of your tea. Learn how to keep your tea fresh and delicious with these easy tea storage tips.

Storage Conditions to Avoid

Avoiding just five storage conditions will make a huge difference in the shelf life of your tea. These factors are light, heat, moisture, odor and air.

Light and UV rays degrade your tea very quickly. Avoid buying tea from vendors who store their clear tea in glass or plastic containers and avoid storing your tea in anything clear unless you plan on keeping it in a dark cabinet.

Heat also degrades your tea. Avoid placing it in the sun (see also: Light) or near heat sources, like a stoves and ovens.

Moisture causes problems, too. Tea is shelf stable because it is dry. Unfortunately, it absorbs water from the air very easily. Until it’s ready to brew, keep it away from boiling water (see also: Heat). You’ll also benefit by avoiding other humid areas, like above a dishwasher vent or in a refrigerator. Obviously, you won’t want to expose your tea to liquid moisture either unless, of course, you’re brewing it.

(Note: Storing tea in the fridge is an incredibly common mistake. The only teas that should be stored in a fridge are tightly sealed canisters of Japanese green teas, and those should be consumed very shortly after they are opened.)

Odor is something that tea absorbs very easily. This tea trait allows for the creation of amazing scented teas, such as Jasmine Pearls. It also means that storing your tea near a spice cabinet, trashcan or other source of odor is a no-no.

Air exposure increases the chances that your tea will absorb moisture and odors. Avoid leaving tea out, sealing it with excess air in the packaging or storing it in porous packaging materials, like paper bags.

How to Store Tea Properly

Avoiding the five “tea killers” above means you’ll have to consider the location, packaging material and packaging mechanism you’re using to store your tea. Here are the best practices for each:
Tea Storage Materials

·         Use opaque packaging if possible.

·         Be sure your packaging is food safe. (For example, don’t use a pencil case to hold tea.)

·         Glazed ceramics, non-reactive metals and opaque, non-leaching plastics all make great packaging materials.

·         Wood packaging may be a workable option, but be aware that many wood containers have odors that can influence the tea’s taste.

·         The bags that suppliers sell tea in vary widely in terms of quality. For long-term storage, make sure your bags are multi-ply with an inner layer of foil or glassine (a substance similar to wax paper). This avoids contamination by water, air or grease.

Note: Plastic “sandwich bags” are not a good storage option, as they expose your tea to light, odor and air.

Tea Storage Mechanisms

A tight seal is key. If the mechanism can hold water, it can protect tea. Good options include:

·         Double lids (these are common with metal tea canisters)

·         Odor-free silicone seals (also common with metal canisters)

·         Multi-ply bags with resealable plastic “zippers”

Reference by : www. coffeetea.about.com

Microwavable Microwave Safe Containers

Microwavable Microwave Safe Containers

In most home kitchens, we'll find an assortment of different materials used in our containers ranging from glass to plastic to ceramic to metals. But are all food grade materials similar? Should we care if a container is marked Microwave Safe? Let's take a closer look at some common materials used in food containers and if they are microwave safe.

Glass & Ceramics

Glass containers are often marked microwavable containers, microwave safe. These microwavable containers can be heated in a microwave without a problem. The issue with glass that is not microwave safe is that micro-air bubbles may be present in the glass and as the glass heats in the microwave oven, the bubbles may expand to the point where the glass breaks or shatters. (Obviously, you shouldn't eat food where it's glass container has broken.) there are a lot of microwavable containers, there are products are microwave safe, heat resistant.   Many glass cannot withstand the intensity of direct heat, such as a range or a broiler, for long, so don't use glassware with such heating methods. Also, all glass is susceptible to thermal cooling shock (rapid cooling, for example, dunking in cold water while hot) and may crack.

One popular method of testing if a particular glass is microwave safe is to microwave the container while it is empty for one minute. If the container is hot, then it is not microwave safe. If the container is warm, it should be fine for heating food. If the container remains cool, you can cook in the microwave with that container. Personally, I choose to either check to see if it's marked as microwave safe or ask the manufacturer before using in a microwave.

Any glass container with a metallic trim should never be microwaved. The electrical currents induced by the microwave radiation in the metals can cause sparking and pinpoint heating of the glass. Sometimes this can result in marring or even breaking of the glassware. Also, make sure any glassware with a colorful coating, finish, or stain should be marked for use with food or microwave safe before attempting to use in food preparation. The dyes, pigments, or stains may not be food grade. Almost always, decorative plates are not for use with food.

Food safe ceramic uses glazes that are made from harmless materials like silica, dolomite, kaolin, feldspar, ball clay, and others. In these glazes, the inevitable leaching that occurs is only a functional and aesthetic

issue and has no health impact. Glazes that contain metals such as lithium, lead, or barium may present a health issue. Ceramic containers made with such glazes cannot be sold in the United States without either a permanent marking stating it is "Not for Food Use - May Poison Food" or have a hole in the container (presumably rendering it useless for food preparation). If you make your own ceramics, make sure you use a food grade glaze if you plan to use it in your kitchen.

Plastics

Food grade plastics are made from a specific list of plastics approved by the FDA (which may include dyes and recycled plastic that have not been determined to be harmful to humans). Once a plastic container has been used to store non-food items (like detergent or paint), it can no longer be considered food grade. Plastics containers that are not food grade may leach plasticizers into food on contact. Due to the nature of plastics, they have a high affinity for fats. Plastics that come in contact with an oil-based substance will almost always be irrevocably altered and the plastic may never become truly clean once again. Contact to foods that are high in fat may cause leaching of the original oil-based substance into the food even if the plastic was originally food grade.

Microwave safe plastics are food grade plastics (which do not leach plasticizers) that are known to be able to withstand higher than normal temperatures. Plastics that are not microwavable containers may leach harmful substances when heated in a microwave oven. (There was an internet e-mail scare/hoax that was passed around claiming the USDA or FDA and independent researchers showed that dioxin (a plasticizer) leached out of plastic wrap onto food being microwaved. This is untrue since all microwave safe plastics are dioxin free. Saran and Ziploc both maintain that their product lines are completely plasticizer free. The temperatures necessary to create dioxin (around 1500°F) are beyond the normal operating conditions of household and commercial microwave ovens.)

Do not microwave food in plastic containers or covered with plastic wrap that is not microwavable containers.

Also, don't brine (or store) foods in containers that are not intended for food preparation - such as a "clean/brand new" mop bucket, plastic trash bag, or trash can.

glass food storage containers

Glass Food Storage Containers

Glass food storage Jars

         Quality, Clarity & Freshness
You want your food to be able to see very tasty and fresh, Nothing compares to glass containers for the ability to show the fresh food AND maintain freshness and shelf-stability. All you need to determine is which size and shape is best suited to storage your food.

Container Lids

The glass food storage container lids is very important element for cheesing a right glass food storage container. And it is essential for buying a good glass food storage container.  There are some suggested items for you to select from;

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the best glass storage container/lid combination to store my food?

A. You have most of the answers to this question. What will you be putting in the glass storage containers? Will you hot-fill, water bath, or pressure cook your food? If you're water bathing your product, we suggest a retortable continuous-thread closure because there is less likelihood of over-tightening a continuous-thread, and retortable lids can withstand the higher heat of a boiling water bath (212 degrees F). Standard one-piece lids are manufactured for hot-fill temperatures (around 180 degrees F). Twist closures are manufactured primarily for compatibility with commercial machine capping equipment, but many of our customers twist them on by hand. After you determine what type of jar and lid combination will work best for your processing method, it's simply a matter of preference for appearance and price.

Q. Why glass food storage containers?

A. The first concern for any food product marketer is the sustainable quality of the food inside. Nothing preserves freshness or displays the product better than glass. It is largely recycled and fully recyclable.

Gurmet Houseware Show 2011

show overview

The Gourmet Housewares Show at NYIGF offers a comprehensive collection of 150 gourmet kitchenware resources alongside 250 specialty tabletop lines.  Presented annually in August, the Gourmet Housewares Show offers a unique 3rd quarter market opportunity.  The Show will also present educational sessions and networking for the specialty gourmet community.

 

show dates and location

August 14-18, 2011
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, NYC

 

product categories

Key categories include: cookware, bakeware, kitchen gadgets, kitchen textiles, bar and wine accessories, small electrics, specialty food, cookbooks, storage/containers, picnic/bbq accessories.

ny market overview

• 35,000+ buyers; 50 states; 85 countries
• 2800 exhibitors representing home, lifestyle and gift
• 500 core media outlets; print; electronic and broadcast; trade and consumer
• Opportunity to reach new channels of distribution for exhibitors 
• Cross-buying opportunity for independent specialty gourmet retailers to diversify assortments
• Fashion-forward - New York City - a perfect complement to the high design and trend emergence that takes place at the Show
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Chicago Houseware Show

show info + events
The International Home + Housewares Show offers you the opportunity to see first-hand consumer lifestyle and product trends for all areas of the home, both inside and out, under one roof. Housewares products are categorized into four show-within-a-show expos: .

Product Expos at the Show: clean + contain - including promotion in motion: retail promotions + continuities dine + design
wired + well
global crossroads (international pavilions)

Annual Show Attendance Info:

• 60,000 professional attendees
• 2,000 exhibitors - from over 35 countries
• 15,000 U.S. buyers
• 6,000 international buyers from 100 countries on 6 continents: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa

glass food storage containers

 

l   Glass Food Storage Containers

 If indeed you want to save money in the kitchen then there is the need to keep your food edible for long periods as much as possible. There are certain food products that can last long like vegetables and fruits but others like perishable items and leftovers normally cannot last that long. It is possible that you have tried other methods like the use of plastic wraps and baggies but these will leave an unmanageable pile of items in the refrigerator. That is a number of people have started using the glass food storage containers.

l   These glass food storage containers will help to store your food in a well sealed environment and still being able to properly organize it. This is a type of storage container which is made of a timeless material and is also totally safe and airtight. They normally come in a number of varying sizes. This is to ensure that they are able to accommodate varying kinds of food. When it has varying sizes, then it will be possible to maximize the efficiency of the storage. This is because you will be able to utilize all the space you may require. It will then allow you to make use of the extra space that will be left in your refrigerator.

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The use of these glass food storage containers will afford you the opportunity to get your refrigerator organized and in good shape. In addition the unique feature of the clear glass will allow you to easily see the contents that are inside the container. It is not even possible for the glass to get stained or warp and could indeed be used in a dishwasher. Even when they are turned upside down, the seal tight lids will still keep the food inside.

Even though the plastic food containers may be a little bit cheaper, you will end up saving a lot of money on the glass food storage containers. This is because there will no need to worry about buying replacements due to melting or warping. Moreover, for these glass containers it will never leach any plasticizer into the food like the plastic containers do because of its high temperature. You can also wash the lids in the dishwasher if you ever are able to use top rack. In terms of sanitary conditions, just wash the glass containers with the countertop water filters.