Creating a tea station

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A couple of years ago, I created a tea station. I had a tray I’d obtained from IKEA that I really loved. It brought me joy, but I thought since I liked it so much, I should have it out instead of tucked into a cupboard. I mean, I don’t actually USE trays all that often.

A pretty tray and an electric tea kettle started it

I had recently purchased an electric ceramic Ambiano tea kettle at ALDI (see mini review below), and decided that since that was going to sit out on my counter anyway, I should make a little area for my tea-loving self. I used a section of my counter that didn’t really get much use because of its location. Someone could easily use a hutch or cart or table or buffet or even a shelf.

After setting the tray on the counter, I plopped my new teakettle on it and then set out decorative tea containers. (The boxed ones are still in my pantry.) I had a little punched metal candleholder that I set out to hold various stray teabags or packets of hot chocolate.

Shopping your house for other containers

A small glass jar with a decorative lid held marshmallows. (The lid was from the Pioneer Woman collection at Walmart, but I’m not sure if they will be restocked. Here’s a wooden lid from Amazon. I’ll update if I find a cute floral one again.)

I keep a sugar bowl on it that I’d received as a wedding gift but never really used. It has xylitol in it and not actually cane sugar, since that’s what I use for my tea because it’s better for teeth. I did find that since the lid wasn’t tight-fitting, the xylitol would clump after a while, so it’s in small plastic zippered bag inside.

I also love to use silver-plated spoons that I find at thrift and antique stores for a $1, so I also keep one or two of those on there.

My tea station is isn’t super fancy, but it works for me and it’s useful.
I’m sure there are many other ways to make it cute. 

Sadly, my Aldi electric tea kettle met its demise at the hands of a nephew who took my words of using the kettle to make instant oatmeal to an Amelia Bedelia level by emptying the oatmeal packet INTO THE KETTLE and then adding water and PUTTING THE KETTLE IN THE MICROWAVE. (It didn’t say “do not microwave” on the bottom. He checked.)

I loved the Aldi kettle, and was completely happy with my purchase. I imagine it would still be heating my water years later if it hadn’t met its untimely death.

So now I have a replacement kettle. And I totally recommend electric kettles, by the way. I love them. Mine is a Bella one, but this robin’s egg blue one is cute, and I also like the traditional yet modern design of this one. (The Bella kettle is nearly identical to the one I got at Aldi, for those who are finding this via Google search.)

I don’t drink coffee, but my husband does. He uses a French press, so he also uses the electric kettle to heat the water. The can of coffee stays in the pantry, but I do sometimes have a few packets of instant coffee in the container with the hot chocolate packets.

If you are a tea or coffee drinker, do you have your supplies out on display or tucked into a drawer or cupboard?