Would a tea caddy like the one at the url below have any preservative value for oolong teas?
http://www.birdpick.com/842580.html
Unfortunately they're hiding the back of the lid in the photo, and they don't describe it as being airtight. You'll have to e-mail them unless someone here has the same caddie and can vouch for it. I have noticed that most porcelain caddies sold for tea storage are airtight nowadays, they have a fluffy foil plug on the bottom of the lids to control airflow. They work pretty well. You can get some from DTH if the one you're looking at turns out to be a non-airtight caddy.
I presently have a couple of tins from Sensational Teas of Oregon. Is there any reason those tins could not be used for storing teas? The seal seems fairly airtight, far better than a loose lid on some porcelaine unit.
Sounds as if I'd be far better off staying with metal tins, double walled or something similar.
Sounds as if I'd be far better off staying with metal tins, double walled or something similar.
Jan 6th, '09, 17:31
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I saw a bunch of similar ones somewhere. They were from China, and they had a weird foil lined plug thing attached to the ceramic lid. Looked odd to me, but they would be pretty air tight. I would contact them.
Except fror green oolongs, I do not think they have to be quite as airtight. Some oolong age pretty well and are better with some aging.
Except fror green oolongs, I do not think they have to be quite as airtight. Some oolong age pretty well and are better with some aging.
I'm familiar with those particular Wing Hop Fung / Bird Pick canisters, and they are really, *really* inconsistent in terms of the lid fit. The quality is also not so good -- sometimes, the mylar or whatever the silver stuff around the inside of the lid is, comes off, or sometimes the glaze is scuffed up around the inside of the lid. I have a bunch of them, but it's not the kind of thing you'd want to buy online - go to the shop and pick one out by hand. For some reason, different designs seem to be better or worse - the beige / green one with the mountain design is the one that seems to have the best fitting lid. I have a bunch of those. They're only $5 at WHF.
The "b-choice" ones that Hou De and others sell are much better quality, and almost the same price. I believe Stéphane has some plain white ones that are nice as well. Not sure about the YSLLC ones, which look similar to the Hou De ones, but aren't the same brand.
I really do strongly prefer ceramic canisters. Unless you line them somehow, metal canisters always seem to have an unpleasant effect long-term on a tea's taste. However, if you're storing greener teas in ceramic, I'd suggest the Beehouse style ones with the silicon gasket and latch, because even the tighter ones of that style don't shut that tightly.
Many of the cheaper metal canisters out there aren't actually airtight, and have small leaks - you'll notice this when you're rinsing them out prior to use (always make sure to dry canisters for several days after rinsing them). The Ten Ren double-lidded ones are not too bad, but I suggest buying them in person, because the lid fit varies from way too loose to way too tight.
The "b-choice" ones that Hou De and others sell are much better quality, and almost the same price. I believe Stéphane has some plain white ones that are nice as well. Not sure about the YSLLC ones, which look similar to the Hou De ones, but aren't the same brand.
I really do strongly prefer ceramic canisters. Unless you line them somehow, metal canisters always seem to have an unpleasant effect long-term on a tea's taste. However, if you're storing greener teas in ceramic, I'd suggest the Beehouse style ones with the silicon gasket and latch, because even the tighter ones of that style don't shut that tightly.
Many of the cheaper metal canisters out there aren't actually airtight, and have small leaks - you'll notice this when you're rinsing them out prior to use (always make sure to dry canisters for several days after rinsing them). The Ten Ren double-lidded ones are not too bad, but I suggest buying them in person, because the lid fit varies from way too loose to way too tight.
Last edited by wyardley on Jan 6th, '09, 18:42, edited 1 time in total.
Jan 6th, '09, 18:37
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Even jade wulong is a little more robust than, say, green tea, IMO.
Wulong doesn't need anything particularly special for storage. If you get a canister that you don't trust, then you can always keep the tea in the mylar bag within the canister. The bag will protect it from air, and the canister would give it extra protection against light and heat (as well as at least some additional protection against air).
Wulong doesn't need anything particularly special for storage. If you get a canister that you don't trust, then you can always keep the tea in the mylar bag within the canister. The bag will protect it from air, and the canister would give it extra protection against light and heat (as well as at least some additional protection against air).