Ceramic Airtight Tea Caddy

Loose leaf tea goes stale through exposure to air, light and moisture, in roughly that order. A ceramic caddy deals with all three: the walls are opaque so no light reaches the leaf, the glaze is non-porous so nothing is absorbed into the body, and the lid seals rather than simply resting on top.

It measures roughly 11cm across and 13cm tall, which holds a useful quantity - around 150 to 200 grams of most leaf teas - without taking over a worktop. Three glaze designs are available, each finished by hand so the surface carries the small tonal shifts and pooling that a real glaze produces. It is handsome enough to leave out beside a kettle rather than hiding in a cupboard, which is the practical test for anything that lives on a worktop.

The same qualities that suit tea make it useful for coffee beans, ground coffee, whole spices, sugar or salt, so it need not be tied to one job. Wash the body by hand with warm water and dry it thoroughly before refilling; a damp caddy defeats the purpose entirely. Avoid detergent if you are storing tea, as ceramic near the rim can hold a trace of scent. Not suitable for the dishwasher, oven or microwave.

• Dimensions: approx 11 x 13cm
• Airtight sealed lid
• Material: hand-glazed ceramic
• Three glaze designs available
• Holds roughly 150-200g of loose leaf tea
• Also suits coffee, spices, sugar or salt
• Hand wash and dry thoroughly before refilling
• Not dishwasher, oven or microwave safe