Finishing a tea chest

Q: How can I finish the inside of a tea chest? It's made of walnut on the outside, with internal dividers of white ash. I'm concerned that the smell of wood finish will transfer to the tea. Although the walnut is very attractive, leaving the wood unfinished inside will make it look bland compared with varnished outside surfaces. What can I use to finish the interior? Will water-based polyurethane do a good job?

A: From what I've seen with many different wood finishes, I don't think you really have much of a choice. You've got to leave all internal wood bare. Every kind of oil, urethane, shellac or sealer leaves at least a bit of residue. Sometimes quite a bit. Even water-based urethane leaves a pronounced odour behind. And when it comes to tea, even the tiniest bit of contamination will ruin the taste. I wouldn't feel badly about having slightly bland-looking wood in exchange for a tea chest that actually works.