Long Time No Post...

I haven't posted in a few months and truthfully I hadn't done much with my teas either. I have solved the storage dilemma though. Tightly lidded glass jars, that are easily sanitized, stored in a cabinet. All my non-food supplies, such as bags and labels are stored on the bottom shelf and the teas are stored on the upper shelves. When I eventually contract with a kitchen, in order to be able to sell online, the cabinet can be easily moved there.

I have blended a few recipes... A nighttime tea, potentially called "Chillaxation," that is filled with herbs known for thier relaxation qualities, a spicy red I call "Sunset Spice" and last night I wanted a decaf blend for iced tea, so I put togehter something I call "Summer Red." I want to do a "Summer Green, " too... for iced tea. So I am making progress... even if it is slowly...

The Storage Saga Continues...

Well... the chalk board paint didn't work. I don't know why I thought it would, but I tried. The paint came off in the dishwasher. So now I have to scrub off the rest of it and resanitize. I was going to use utility shelving, but instead I'll get a cabinet with doors, so I can shield the jars from light. I'll look at some thrift stores to see if I can find one. If not, Big Lots has one for $79 that I can use. So soon... hopefully... the Storage Saga will end.

Storage Problem Solved!

Teas need to be stored in air tight containers and protected from light. They, like anything else stored long term, should not be stored in plastic. So tins and opaque glass are the materials of choice. Tins were cost prohibitive... solution... glass canning jars and storage containers (found them 50% off at Hobby Lobby) sprayed with black chalk board paint! So as soon as my paint dries well, I'll sanitize my jars and lids and break open the new teas I got! Pretty cool!

I dug out my food dehydrator and sanitized it. So now I can dry my own fruits and berries for my tea blends. I've also been working on my labels and have come up with some cool designs. I'll post when I get them finalized!

Making Slow Progess...

I took my food manager certification class and test today. I feel like I did well, but won't find out for sure for a couple of weeks. I ordered packaging as well. I am, however, still trying to find storage vessels, either glass or tins. It's not recommended to store loose tea in plastic... nor in clear containers. If I store it in glass, I will have to cover the jars with paper or paint. I'm making progress... but it's certainly not quick!