Did you know that tea storage can significantly impact its aroma and taste? It doesn’t matter if you have a small or large collection. How you store your tea is important. This applies to loose-leaf tea, tea bags, and other teas. It doesn’t matter whether it’s jasmine or chai, earl gray, hojicha, chamomile, or even chamomile. It doesn’t have to be difficult or overwhelming to store tea properly. It is worth organizing the teas in your home and learning how to keep them fresh. Let’s talk about how to store tea properly!

Tea Storage: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are five tips to help you store your tea properly and ensure it stays fresher for longer.

Does tea expire?

Teas should be labeled with a best-before date. The tea’s flavors should not change after that date if stored properly. Tea can become stale with time, losing its flavors over time.

Is loose-leaf tea more effective than tea bags?

You can. It can, especially if you use smaller tea leaves or dust. Smaller tea leaves can be more difficult to use.

This is also true for tea powders (i.e., matcha and hojicha). Finer particles are more prone to lose freshness. Tea powders should be used within a couple of months of opening.

Is tea bad for you?

Tea can be ruined by time, but that doesn’t mean you should stop drinking it.

Although most teas can be consumed after the best before date, they might not taste as good as when it was first consumed.

This is only true if the tea smells and looks good. The leaves should not have mold growth. If tea bags or leaves become moldy, you should throw them out.

Can I freeze tea?

It is possible to freeze brewed tea ( Iced tea). However, it would help if you did not freeze tea bags and leaves. Tea that is stored in the freezer will not preserve it. It will lose its natural flavors.

What do I do about tea that isn’t used anymore?

It may not be as enjoyable as tea, but you can make it into a tea by using tea and roasting leaves.

Alternatively, expired tea leaves. You will be a blessing to your garden!

Composting tea bags Please double-check that they are fully compostable before you dispose of them. Tea leaves are compostable, but sometimes the tea bags’ material and string may not be.

Tea Shelf Life

Every tea has a different shelf life. The shelf life of teas can vary depending on the quality and type, but these guidelines should be followed if they are properly stored.

The shelf life of green tea and white tea is approximately 6 months to one year.

Oolong tea lasts 1-2 years, while black tea can be enjoyed for up to 2 years.

Long-term aging is possible with dark teas (such as puerh)

However, the shelf life of tea will vary if we are talking about blends. Some ingredients in blends (ie. Some ingredients in blends (e.g., essential oils and dried fruit) can expire faster than tea leaves.

To ensure that the tea smells and looks good, check the expiration dates on the tea packet.

How to store tea properly.

Tea will last longer when it is kept out of oxygen, heat, light and moisture. These tips will help you store your tea correctly to enjoy it for many years.

Keep tea fresh in an airtight container.

Tea leaves can continue oxidizing when they are exposed to oxygen or air. This can greatly impact the taste of tea.

Green teas, for example, are less likely to be oxidized than other types of teas. The leaf’s color and freshness will also be affected. The color of green tea is usually green, but leaves can turn brown if left to air for a long time.

Tea leaves and bags should be in an airtight container to limit exposure. You can use a resealable container or pouch.

Tin, stainless steel, or ceramic are the best materials to store your tea in a jar.

If the packaging is resealable, I keep most of my teas inside their original containers. Because I can squeeze out extra air before sealing them, I prefer keeping them in pouches. This is not possible when storing them in jars. Keeping the jars full is better to reduce the oxygen/air volume.