Packaging Herbal Tea: Presentation Matters

By Paris Wolfe, Blogmaster, The Herb Society of America 

 

When I dried this year’s mint and lemon herbs for handcrafted herbal tea, I considered how to package and store my blend. I know tea should be kept in a non-plastic, airtight container. And, that the container should be stored in a dark, cool, dry place free from strong odors.  So, I eliminated the possibility of paper bags or cardboard boxes.

I also know that presentation is important in generating an emotional response.  And, as these teas would be gifts, I wanted something warm and homey.

Canning jars were a no brainer; they’re nearly a culinary hug. What started as a container for grandma’s homemade strawberry-rhubarb jelly or grandpa’s apple pie moonshine, has become repurposed for wildflowers at a country wedding, water at a BBQ restaurant or candles along a garden path. Mason jars are ubiquitous symbols of connection.

I will use 4- and 8-ounce jars to package herbal teas for gifting.

My creative skills don’t stop there. I’ll need lids and labels. Traditional two-part, metal
canning lids don’t work in this situation. That’s why I was happy to find Timber Tops Bamboo Storage Lids from Masontops. They’re reusable, leak-proof and made from fast-growing, highly renewable bamboo. Better yet, they add flair.

The next item in my supply box is twine. I’ve found it in natural, black, blue and pink at the dollar section in Target stores as well as other craft suppliers and online. Check out your local hardware store or amazon.com if you can’t find it easily.

Finally, I need labels to identify the tea blend and year it was grown. Again, over the past months I’ve found a variety of tags in the Target dollar section… wood, burlap, and metal. These can also be found at craft and office stores. Even the canning jar company Ball sells wood hanging tags.

My favorite tags, which go well with the stylish bamboo look, have blackboard paint. I print information on them with a white chalk marker and hang them around the neck of the jar.  Viola, class in glass.

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