Unglazed porcelain for storage?

[Bok]

Dear all,

Quick research did not yield anything on this forum so my question is:

Is unglazed porcelain suitable for medium to long term tea storage?
Regular clay is porous so probably not ideal, now wondering if the properties for porcelain are the same?

Secondly, what if the inside and outside bottom part are left unglazed?

Any opinions are most appreciated!

[steanze]

Dear all,

Quick research did not yield anything on this forum so my question is:

Is unglazed porcelain suitable for medium to long term tea storage?
Regular clay is porous so probably not ideal, now wondering if the properties for porcelain are the same?

Secondly, what if the inside and outside bottom part are left unglazed?

Any opinions are most appreciated!

Hi Bok
What tea do you need to store?

[Bok]

Hi Bok
What tea do you need to store?

Hello Steanze
Roasted oolong. Normally I would go for a more traditional inside-glazed porcelain jar or woodfired clay, but a nice only partly glazed jar in a more interesting shape recently caught my eye, which is why I was wondering if it could be used for long-term storage as well.

[steanze]

Hi Bok
What tea do you need to store?

Hello Steanze
Roasted oolong. Normally I would go for a more traditional inside-glazed porcelain jar or woodfired clay, but a nice only partly glazed jar in a more interesting shape recently caught my eye, which is why I was wondering if it could be used for long-term storage as well.

mm how roasted? Considering the humidity in Taiwan, I'd try a more sealed solution, and I'd seal it on a relatively dry day. Unless it's dryer in your house because of air conditioning, in which case it should be fine. The risk with high humidity is sourness.

[Bok]

mm how roasted? Considering the humidity in Taiwan, I'd try a more sealed solution, and I'd seal it on a relatively dry day. Unless it's dryer in your house because of air conditioning, in which case it should be fine. The risk with high humidity is sourness.

That particular one is heavy roasted.

By more sealed, do you mean another material, or to seal it with wax. Wax seal was planned in any case.

Not too humid in the appt. aircon is mostly on these days. Taiwan has been crazy hot these few months!

[steanze]

mm how roasted? Considering the humidity in Taiwan, I'd try a more sealed solution, and I'd seal it on a relatively dry day. Unless it's dryer in your house because of air conditioning, in which case it should be fine. The risk with high humidity is sourness.

That particular one is heavy roasted.

By more sealed, do you mean another material, or to seal it with wax. Wax seal was planned in any case.

Not too humid in the appt. aircon is mostly on these days. Taiwan has been crazy hot these few months!

I meant wax. If it's relatively dry and you wax seal I think it should work well

[Bok]

I meant wax. If it's relatively dry and you wax seal I think it should work well

Thanks!

[steanze]

I meant wax. If it's relatively dry and you wax seal I think it should work well

Thanks!

welcome

[kuánglóng]

I second wax but prefer paraffin over bee's wax since the latter could impart an unwanted scent to your leaves (depending on how much you're using, surface area, temperatures, yadda yadda). Done right (glazed porcelain, good seal) you end up with much better aroma sealing than you'd get from standard plastic bags. I keep some of my oolongs and mao cha in porcelain (ginger) jars and they're maturing just fine but actually prefer multi-layer aluminum bags since you can easily get rid of most of the air inside - they just don't look as nice as porcelain jars

[Bok]

I second wax but prefer paraffin over bee's wax since the latter could impart an unwanted scent to your leaves (depending on how much you're using, surface area, temperatures, yadda yadda). Done right (glazed porcelain, good seal) you end up with much better aroma sealing than you'd get from standard plastic bags. I keep some of my oolongs and mao cha in porcelain (ginger) jars and they're maturing just fine but actually prefer multi-layer aluminum bags since you can easily get rid of most of the air inside - they just don't look as nice as porcelain jars

I was going to use seal wax, doesn’t smell anything either.

Yes those bags don’t look too nice… but they do a good job.