Traveling with Tea... storage options?

Is there anything wrong with using resealable freezer bags? Strong, won’t split, air tight and won’t take up much space in your luggage either.

I haven’t done it yet, but seeing Harney and Sons’ “tagalog” little metal tins reminded me, a lot of European hard candies, fruit ones or violet pastilles, say, come in round metal tins that are more airtight than you’d think. If you saved them and aired them out I bet they’d do the job nicely, and they fit in purses/pockets.

There’s also Altoids or other breath mint tins, but you’d have to make sure to really air that out first! Some ginger chew candies come in rectangular metal boxes with a top panel that slides open; that might work. Similar shape but larger size, metal band aid boxes maybe if that’s not weirdly offputting.

Vintage-style metal cigarette cases, a new one that’s never been used for cigarettes (!), would be kind of cool for flat teabags.

When I went ‘camping’ with my parents I packed a bunch of my teas in their original bags and put them in a box with my ingenuitea and kettle. Then again, most of what I brought were sipdown amounts. If I was planning on just bringing one or two of my favorites I’d probly pack them in some of the smaller tins I have around.

Those test tube things look pretty awesome. I wish they were glass so the smells from the teas don’t absorb…and maybe not clear so storing small amounts of tea would be easier? Lol.

I have a variety of small tins that I’ve collected over the years and could probably use some of those. I have also saved glass spice bottles after using up spices, given them a good washing. That kind of think would be good. However most likely I would just package a small amount in the swap pouches I use (http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-3-5×5-Ziplock-Stand-Up-Pouches-Bags-SUP-AA-Clear-Silver-/310658901253?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4854b6a505) which are airtight, smell-proof and never leave a plastic smell.

I use old CVS vitamin containers and pill bottles. They are plastic and seal air-tight (many with child-proof lids). My one complaint is that Highly aromatic teas flavor the plastic so they can only be re-used for the same tea type. This also means that you wouldn’t want to re-use the containers from vitamins with powerful aroma.

When I’m traveling, I usually just stick with tea sachets, or a few teaspoons of loose tea in the small ziploc bags like this: http://www.sks-bottle.com/340c/fin165l.html

But the lipbalm tin is a great idea: http://www.sks-bottle.com/340c/fin7k.html

A while back I was using tins that held about an once of tea. Sometimes, I would even put loose leaf in a paper tea filter and fold that up inside the tins. They were round and about 2 inches tall, and I think I got them at a craft store.

Since then, I have purchased my tea in sachets for travel since I am not away from home often.

Why bring any tea at all? If you don’t bring tea it gives you justification to be a tea tourist, look up the local tea stores and try new things. Although I do like the soda bottle tubes you found.