Desk-Drawer Tea: Tidy Storage for Shared Offices
Shared kitchens go feral fast—open boxes, mystery crumbs, vanished favourites. Fix it at the source with a small tea caddy for office use: a flat, rigid metal tin that lives in your drawer, labelled and ready.
Recommended carrier: a personalised STEPOY flat metal tin (3.94 × 3.94 × 0.39 in; inner 3.74 × 3.74 × 0.35 in), comfortably holding 3–5 wrapped sachets. Snug lid = crumb-proof and odour-blocking.
Office Tea SOP (simple, keepable)
1) One-person, one-caddy.
Your name on the lid. No “community” tins; those go feral.
2) Wrappers stay on.
Hygiene and aroma control until brew time.
3) Drawer = dry zone.
Never store next to hand cream, gum or wipes; scents migrate.
4) Weekly reset.
Every Friday: wipe, air open for 5 minutes, refill for Monday.
5) Borrow protocol.
If you must borrow in an emergency, leave a note and replace like-for-like.
Drawer Layout (text map)
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Front-left: small tea caddy for office (face-up, easy grab)
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Front-right: mug or collapsible cup
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Back-left: spoon/stirrer sleeve
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Back-right: napkins + tiny waste pouch for wrappers
Silent drawer test: close → shake gently → open. If anything rattles, add a napkin sleeve under the caddy.
Load-Outs (choose one, 3–5 sachets)
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Desk Survival: 2 × breakfast · 1 × green · 1 × peppermint (+1 × decaf)
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Meeting Days: 2 × sturdy black · 1 × lighter afternoon · 1 × peppermint
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Late Shift Friendly: 1 × decaf black · 2 × herbal · 1 × ginger
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No-Caffeine Set: rooibos · peppermint · fruit infusion (+1 × chamomile)
Stack flat and alternate corners so the lid closes perfectly flush.
Etiquette That Keeps the Peace
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Don’t shake wet spoons over the drawer.
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Rinse the office kettle once before brewing.
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Keep the caddy away from open snacks and air fresheners.
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Replace a sachet you borrowed—same brand if possible.
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Close the lid fully; crumbs belong nowhere.
Label Template (copy & print at business-card size)
Micro-Clean Routine (30 seconds)
Wipe the tin dry, air it open for a minute (especially after herbals), then reseal. For lingering aromas, leave a pinch of dry bicarb on a tissue inside for a few hours; remove before refilling.
Why the Flat Metal Tin Wins at Work
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Slim (about 0.4 in) fits neatly in stationery trays.
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Rigid shell prevents corner crush and tea dust.
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Opaque body shields from light; aroma stays true.
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Personalised lid stops “mysterious migration” in shared spaces.
FAQs
How many bags fit?
Most brands fit 3–5 in the 3.74 × 3.74 × 0.35 in inner space.
Loose leaf okay in the office?
Yes—pre-portion into mini paper sachets, then treat like bags.
Will metal affect flavour?
Dry sachets don’t touch liquid; no metallic transfer when used correctly.
What if the drawer smells like stationery?
Store the caddy in a simple zip sleeve, and air it open for 5–10 minutes before refilling.
