Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This Lipper International Tea Chest is an affordable and very good-quality tea chest. If you are looking for a tea chest that is on the value side of pricing, but still has good quality, this is a great choice. Sized externally at about 12L x 7.25W x 3.5H inches (inner dimensions are about .35 inches less as that is the approximate thickness of the walls) this Lipper International tea box is constructed of bamboo and has 8 separate compartments to organize tea. The compartments are made from a single insert (rather than glued down) and so you can remove them to have an open box without compartments if you so desire. A small chain holds the lid open at about a 120 degree angle. Using hardware that is brass (presumably plated), it not only looks good with the bamboo, but will help prevent corrosion (always a plus for something used in the kitchen.) Each of the 8 compartments can fit (for me) about 12-20 tea bags, depending upon the size/thickness of the individual package. I am very happy with the product that I got. As a start, the size is generous and so I can fit the wide varieties of tea I have all into the same box...a lot of tea chests are too small for this. The bamboo looks really good and by finishing it with just a laminating material allows the beauty of the bamboo to shine. While it does not have the visual striking appearance of many hard woods, the bamboo is a classy finish that blends well with most every decor. Thanks to it being laminated, upkeep is minimal (now and then a rub down with something like a tiny bit of butcher's block oil will bring back its shine.) Bamboo is a very strong material and it should give this box good longevity and good resistance to damage. On the downside, the hinges are lighter duty and the chain used to hold the box open uses extremely delicate hardware which may need replacement with extended usage...with that said, these are pretty minor issues for something priced so affordably. Finally, the height of the tea box is not tall enough for the unusually large tea bags...which, while not an issue for me, may be an issue if you constantly drink a certain tea that comes in a very large wrapper. So overall, I am absolutely thrilled with the design & quality for under 20 bucks shipped. There are many tea chests available that are made gorgeous with some of the finest hardwoods on planet Earth...and they usually come with a price tag that reflects this. I wanted a good-looking tea box of generous size that is of reasonably good-quality and for a reasonable price price...this Lipper International does exactly that, and so if that is the type of tea chest you are seeking, this is a great choice!