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Tea Caddy
A good tea caddy shields your leaves from light, moisture, air and kitchen odours: this simple accessory is what keeps your loose-leaf tea fresh and full of flavour for months. We've selected airtight metal tea caddies, available in clean, understated finishes or dressed in Japanese washi paper, from 100 to 200 g. Perfect for storing your everyday teas, starting a collection or giving as a gift, starting with our black tea caddy, our most popular choice.
66 products
How to Choose a Tea Caddy?
Our short guide comes down to four key criteria, to help you choose the right storage tin and keep your teas and herbal infusions at their aromatic best.
Airtightness: the double lid
One lid that fits snugly inside the body of the caddy, and a second that closes over the top: this is the system that makes a tea caddy truly airtight. Many of our metal and washi models are built this way, and it is noted on each product page.
Material: opaque metal
Tinplate and other metal tins are opaque and absorb no odours. Metal is the most reliable material for storing loose-leaf tea, whether green, black, white, or a scented herbal infusion.
Capacity: from 100 to 200 g
Our models hold between 100 and 200 g of tea. A 100 to 150 g caddy is ideal for an everyday tea pouch; a 200 g caddy suits those who drink a lot of tea, or teas with a larger leaf volume, such as fruit infusions or white teas with broad leaves. If you are trying a new tea, a smaller caddy is all you need. The exact size and dimensions of each model are listed on its product page.
Design: understated or decorative
A plain black tin sits quietly in a modern kitchen; a washi caddy with Japanese patterns brings a genuine decorative touch to a shelf. Both protect your leaves equally well. Our advice: choose the one you will look forward to opening every day. Our most beautifully decorated pieces are our Japanese washi paper tea caddies, sourced directly from Japan.
What types of tea caddies are there?
Metal tea caddy
The metal tea caddy remains the best choice for storing your loose-leaf tea. Its close-fitting lid, often paired with an inner lid, creates an airtight seal that protects against the four enemies of tea storage:
- Light: unlike clear glass, metal keeps it out entirely.
- Moisture: the airtight seal maintains a dry environment.
- Air: less oxygen means less oxidation of delicate aromas.
- Odors: your teas stay well away from neighboring coffee, spices, or herbal infusions.
Plain, embossed, or painted, our metal caddies suit every tea and infusion, from delicate green tea to rooibos, whether loose-leaf or in tea bags.
Japanese washi tea caddy
The Japanese tea caddy combines a cylindrical tin with a hand-crafted washi paper sleeve, a traditional paper featuring motifs of cherry blossoms, waves, or cranes. Taller than it is wide, it tucks neatly onto a shelf and brings a quiet corner of Japan to your tea collection. Browse all our washi caddy designs.
What about wood, bamboo, ceramic, or glass?
These are beautiful materials, but less suited to storing tea. Wood and bamboo absorb odors and rarely seal tightly without an inner lining. Ceramic is opaque, but its lid is seldom airtight. Clear glass, meanwhile, dulls the aromas over time. That is why our selection focuses on metal caddies, decorated or plain.
Storing Tea Properly: What Really Matters
After the harvest, tea leaves continue to evolve, and their aromas deteriorate when exposed to four silent enemies: light, moisture, oxygen, and foreign odors. A good tea caddy neutralizes all four at once, and that is what sets a true storage solution apart from a simple decorative container.
Why Not a Clear Glass Jar?
Clear glass lets light through, which quickly dulls the aromas, especially in green tea: within a few weeks, the tea goes flat. If you prefer glass, choose a tinted jar and keep it in a closed cupboard.
Metal and the Double Lid
Metal is opaque and absorbs no odors; a double-lid closure seals out ambient air. This is the solution tea houses have relied on for generations, and the one we chose for our caddies.
How Long Does Tea Keep?
In a well-sealed caddy, away from heat, a green tea holds its aromas for many months; a black tea or Pu-erh keeps even longer. Tea left in an open bag or a clear jar loses its character much faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to store loose-leaf tea?
In a well-sealed metal tin, kept in a cupboard away from heat, spices, and coffee. Use one tin per tea so the aromas do not mingle.
What is a tea storage tin called?
It is simply called a tea caddy. Japanese tins covered in traditional paper are known as washi caddies.
Metal or wooden tea caddy: which should I choose?
For storage, metal is unbeatable: it seals tightly and absorbs no odors. Wood requires an inner lining to offer comparable protection. If aesthetics matter to you, a washi caddy brings the warmth of a decorative finish while remaining metal underneath.
What capacity should I choose for my tea caddy?
100 to 150 g works well for an everyday tea. For fruit infusions, white teas with larger leaves, or if you drink a lot of tea, a 200 g caddy is more comfortable.
What are the dimensions of a tea caddy?
They depend on the capacity and shape, whether round or taller than wide as with Japanese models. The capacity and dimensions of each caddy are listed on its product page.
Are the tea caddies sold empty?
Yes: all our caddies are sold empty, ready to welcome your favorite teas, loose-leaf or in tea bags.
Can I store tea bags in a tea caddy?
Absolutely. Tea bags benefit just as much from protection against light and air. A washi caddy filled with tea bags also makes a lovely gift for someone just discovering tea.
How do I clean a tea caddy?
Dry only: a soft cloth is all you need. Avoid water and cleaning products, as moisture can mark the metal and affect the flavor of future teas. To remove a lingering scent, leave the caddy open for a day in fresh air, then wipe it out with a dry cloth.
Our tea caddy collection at Thés & Traditions
Every model in our collection is chosen with two things in mind: keeping your teas in perfect condition, and adding a little beauty to your tea corner.
The black tea caddy, our signature piece
Sleek, airtight and crafted in black metal, the black tea caddy is the one our customers reach for most often alongside their teas. Perfect for lining up your everyday teas, one caddy per blend.
Decorative metal caddies
The deep red and green of the Akashi caddy, the textured relief of the Côte d'Azur range, the patterns of the Mandala Ebony, the gilded details of the Yumiko caddies or the Little Geisha: each one is as distinctive as it is protective.
Washi caddies: a Japanese soul
Hana, Kyoto, Nami, Komorebi, Sekai, Sakura, Kaiyo: each washi caddy carries its own motif, from cherry blossoms to ocean waves. They are true decorative objects, at once unique and rooted in Japanese tradition, while remaining fully functional metal tea caddies.
A tea caddy for every need
For everyday loose-leaf tea
A 100 to 150 g caddy is all you need for your daily teas. Look for a model that opens and closes easily, several times a day.
For storing several teas
If you like to keep a variety on hand, give each tea its own caddy: one for green tea, one for black tea, one for flavoured herbal infusions. This keeps the aromas separate, and a row of matching caddies makes for a beautiful display.
As a gift
A tea caddy on its own, or paired with one of our house teas, always makes a welcome gift. A washi caddy with a cherry blossom motif is especially lovely for anyone with a love of Japan. For a gift that's ready to give, take a look at our tea gift sets.
Julien Huot, founder of Thés & Traditions, selects every model by looking first at what matters most for your teas: the quality of the metal, the precision of the lid, the durability of the finish.
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