How long will tea stay good? Generally, black teas will last for up to two years, while green and white teas will remain fresh for about a year. Extremely delicate teas are even more fragile, with a shelf life of only several months.
However, like all natural products, the proper storage of tea can prevent the loss of its flavor and freshness. The main enemies of tea are heat, light, moisture, and exposure to air. Some teas will bear recommendations for their storage; the proprietor of your local tea shop is also a good source of information. However, there are some rules of thumb for proper care and storage of your favorite teas.
Light degrades tea very quickly, as the UV rays cause it to fade in both flavor and appearance. Accordingly, tea should be kept in a dark area or in dark containers. Glass containers in a cupboard work very well, but opaque jars or tins are better. Although many teas are exquisite to see as well as to drink, resist the temptation to show them off in clear containers in well-lit areas.
Exposure to air causes tea to oxidize and can shorten their shelf life. Even if the tea is already oxidized, as black teas are, constant contact with oxygen causes the tea to degrade. Green tea, especially, because it isn’t oxidized, will degenerate in short order. Store tea in airtight containers made of glass or metal. Plastic bags are too unstable for long-term storage, and more permanent plastic containers retain odors from their previous contents.
Nothing will cause tea to deteriorate faster than excessive heat. Even temperatures above around 80 degrees F. cause the tea to shed their natural oils that they need to maintain their taste and freshness. Heat can also encourage the growth of harmful mold, which can ruin an entire container of tea. Store tea, then, in a cool place far from stoves and other kitchen heat sources as well as away from direct exposure to sunbeams.
The worst enemy of tea is perhaps moisture. Indeed, those residing in humid areas often find that storing tea for any length of time is extremely difficult. There are packets of water-absorbing compounds (called dessicants) usually sold in packages to regulate the moisture level of tea (among other things), but these are not recommended as some contain chemicals or even natural substances that are harmful when consumed. It is advisable to keep tea in an airtight container opened just long enough to remove whatever tea will be used immediately. Alternately, keep a large container for bulk tea storage and another, smaller one for daily or weekly use, sparing the greatest quantity of tea the constant exposure to air and humidity.
Since cool, dark places are crucial for proper tea storage, the refrigerator or freezer seems like a good option, but this is misleading. While cool and usually dark, such appliances are by necessity also moist, and storing tea in them will spoil it quickly. Freezing tea is fine until you un-freeze it, at which time condensation forms and this moisture ruins it entirely. Tea that is stored in the refrigerator also often absorbs other unwelcome odors and flavors from surrounding items.
The best containers for storing tea are made of glass, ceramic, tin, or other metals and have airtight lids. Tins, especially, have a long history of both commercial and home use, and can be rinsed and wiped clean and re-used without fear of lingering flavors, and therefore are great for green and white teas. Your local tea store also very likely carries several suitable container choices. A quaint, anachronistic way to store tea is in an old-fashioned tea chest. Such chests were lacquered or varnished, making them airtight, dark, and dry.
The perfect tea container is a tin or mason jar with an airtight lid. If you have a favorite tin but you’re unsure whether it’s airtight, fill it with water and turn it upside down several times. It will quickly become clear whether it is well sealed. Tea sold in tea bags has already been crushed and dried during their processing and packaging, and thus has a shorter shelf life than bulk teas (even if individually wrapped). Bulk teas, if properly cared for, will keep longer and taste better.
There are a few simple ways to detect whether your tea is still good. The most obvious indication that your tea is over the hill is bland flavor, faded appearance, or a musty aroma. Visible mold is a sometimes startling indicator that tea is bad; if your black tea has green stuff growing on it, throw it out. Tea that is moist right out of the container is likewise already spoiled. After a while, you’ll be able to tell very quickly if your favorite teas is deteriorating; green teas, for instance, become yellowed and faded in color and takes on very un-fresh vegetal aromas.
To brew the best quality loose leaf tea, you’ll need teaware like cast iron teapots, kyusu teapots, or Yixing teapots.