How to store tea so it stays fresh
Tea is a dried leaf, and it takes in smells and moisture easily. A good way of storing it keeps the flavour for much longer.
The five enemies of tea
- Air
- Light
- Heat
- Moisture
- Strong smells (coffee, spices, the kitchen)
What to do
- Use an airtight tin or jar that is not see-through, and not a bag that stays open.
- Keep it in a cool, dark cupboard, away from the stove and the sun.
- Keep each kind of tea in its own container, so that the smells do not mix.
- Use a clean, dry spoon, and close the container right away.
- Buy the amount you can drink in a few months, not a year's supply.
How long does each kind stay good?
- Green tea: best within a year, and the sooner the better. Matcha within a month or two after opening, in the fridge
- White tea: it keeps well and can age for years if stored dry
- Black tea: about two years
- Oolong: rolled oolong is best within a year or two, and roasted oolong keeps longer
- Pu-erh: it is meant to age. Keep it dry, with some fresh air and no strong smells
- Herbal tea: about a year, and the smell tells you when it is gone
Should tea go in the fridge?
Only matcha and very delicate green tea, and only in a tin that is really airtight. For most teas the fridge brings moisture and smells, so a dark cupboard is better.