Tea Station Ideas: Set Up a Calm Tea Corner
A tea station is the quieter cousin of the coffee bar. It needs less equipment, and when it is set up well the whole ritual (kettle, tea, cup) happens without opening a single cupboard. Here is how to put one together.
What a tea station needs
- A kettle. A kettle with temperature settings is the most useful upgrade for tea, because different teas want very different water temperatures (see the table below).
- A teapot or infuser. A glass teapot lets you watch the colour of the tea; a basket infuser in a mug is enough for one person.
- Airtight tins or jars for loose-leaf tea and a small box for tea bags.
- Cups or mugs, a honey jar and a small dish for used infusers or tea bags.
Store tea away from light and smells
Tea absorbs odours easily and loses flavour with light, heat, air and moisture. Keep it in airtight, opaque tins, away from the stove, the coffee and spices. Clear jars look lovely on a tea station; if you use them, keep only a small amount in each and refill from sealed packs stored in a dark cupboard.
Water temperature and steeping time
These ranges are a starting point that most tea sellers recommend; adjust to taste and follow the packet when it says something different.
| Tea | Water temperature | Steeping time |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 160–180°F (70–80°C) | 2–3 minutes |
| White | 160–185°F (70–85°C) | 4–5 minutes |
| Oolong | 185–205°F (85–96°C) | 3–5 minutes |
| Black | 200–212°F (93–100°C) | 3–5 minutes |
| Herbal | 212°F (100°C) | 5–7 minutes |
| Matcha | about 175°F (80°C) | whisked, not steeped |
Boiling water on green tea is the most common reason it tastes bitter.
A small matcha corner
Matcha needs four things: a bowl, a bamboo whisk, a small sifter and a scoop. Sift about a teaspoon of matcha into the bowl to break up lumps, add a little water at about 175°F (80°C) and whisk in a quick zig-zag until it foams. Keep the matcha tin sealed in the fridge once opened, and let it come to room temperature before opening so moisture does not condense on the powder.
Styling a tea corner
- A wooden tray or a small sideboard section keeps everything together.
- Line up tins by type (green, black, herbal) and label them.
- Add a linen cloth for drips and one plant or a tea print on the wall.
- Keep the honey jar on a small saucer so it does not stick to the tray.
See also: coffee bar ideas for a small kitchen.