Tea caddies have been in use since tea was introduced in the 17th Century. Some of the tea caddies in the late 17th Century didn’t resemble that they were for that purpose. This is because of the high tea tax causing people to hide the tea they did have. The majority of tea caddies in the 17th and 18th Centuries were made out of wood. They were shaped like a small chest and held two or three metal canisters of tea.
Some of them came with locks to further protect the tea. Others featured a secret compartment under the felt lining so that additional tea could be hidden. Some of the better quality tea caddies offered a place for the stirring spoons to be stored as well. The outsides of the tea caddies were carefully carved with pictures or designs. They were often made by the cabinetmakers so they were very skilled in the process.
Some individuals are lucky enough to have a family heirloom tea caddy like this that has been passed down through the generations. The rest of us have to buy the tea caddies that are now offered in retail stores or online. A few people go as far as to build their own tea caddy so they can get the special look they are after.
Today a tea caddy can be made from various materials including wood or porcelain. They come in a variety of designs that you will love. One of my favorite is the tea caddy that has a small container to hold the tea leaves or tea bags in. The other part is a metal carrier with four holders. You can place four cups of tea in it and carry it to the table or you can use two of the holder areas for sugar and cream.
