Many people know that tea can be stored for many years, but if you take a closer look at the tea packages on the market, you will often see a shelf life or recommended drinking date printed on the label. Some people may wonder, does tea also expire? Why do some teas become more expensive the longer they are stored? Today I will talk about the storage time limit and how to store tea.
Will tea expire?
The first thing to understand is that the "recommended drinking period" does not mean it has expired, nor does it mean that the tea is undrinkable.
It is generally seen that the recommended drinking period of tea is about one to three years. After opening, try to drink it within six months. In fact, it should depend on the tea type and the degree of fermentation of the tea product, which will be explained in detail below.
In fact, most tea leaves can be stored "expired". There is no harm in storing them for longer than the recommended storage period. The key lies in whether the storage method causes the tea leaves to deteriorate. It must be emphasized that any tea that is damp, moldy or sour is never suitable for drinking . Deteriorated tea leaves will lose their flavor and be harmful to the body. Therefore, you should learn how to store tea to prevent it from going bad, rather than blindly believing in the recommended drinking period.
Are all tea types suitable for collection?
Not all tea varieties are suitable for long-term storage. Non-fermented tea such as green tea, or lightly fermented tea such as fragrant Tieguanyin should be consumed within 1-2 years. Because light-flavored tea leaves will oxidize over time, long-term storage will cause the tea leaves to lose their floral aroma and inhale other odors. On the contrary, for semi-fermented, heavily fermented and post-fermented teas, the storage time can be adjusted according to the characteristics of the tea type. Some teas need time to mature, such as Pu'er, white tea, strong oolong, etc. After aging, the tea aroma and throat rhyme will become more mellow, and the taste will be richer and more exciting.
How to store tea?
1. Isolate air and light
First of all, the "killing" process during tea making does not completely stop the fermentation of tea leaves. If the tea leaves are often exposed to air after opening, the aroma of the tea will easily dissipate, and the tea leaves will continue to oxidize, causing the tea leaves to lose flavor. Light exposure will also cause the tea leaves to absorb heat, catalyze the chemical reaction of contained substances such as catechins, volatilize the aroma of the tea, and accelerate the loss of flavor.
Therefore, tea leaves should be placed in a cool place and avoid direct contact with sunlight. Opened tea needs to be stored in iron cans, tea cans or sealed containers. Some merchants will include sealing strips to save space.
#"Some people say that tea can be kept in the refrigerator. Is this feasible?"
Generally, unopened green tea and fragrant tea can be stored in the refrigerator to extend the flavor of the tea. However, it is not recommended to put the tea leaves in the refrigerator repeatedly after opening, because the water droplets caused by the temperature difference can easily cause the tea leaves to become damp and deteriorate. Heavily fermented teas such as black tea and dark tea do not need to be stored in the refrigerator. They only need to be stored in a cool and ventilated place.
(Image source: Tmall)
2. Place in a dry place
The weather in Hong Kong is rainy and humid. Dried tea leaves easily absorb moisture in the air and become damp and moldy. When brewed, damp tea leaves will have a stuffy smell, or even musty smell, making them unsuitable for drinking. Therefore, tea leaves need to be placed in a dry place to avoid direct contact with moisture. If the home is particularly humid, it is recommended that the tea leaves be placed in a sealed glass vessel or aluminum can and stored separately in a cool place, preferably one that can block light. Remember not to put tea together with mothballs, deodorants and other items to prevent the tea from absorbing the odor of the items.
#"What should I do if the tea leaves get damp?"
Just throw it away! Don't force yourself to finish the damp tea. First, it tastes bad, and second, it's a hygiene problem. Damp tea leaves will breed bacteria. If you drink it reluctantly, you are just forcing yourself to drink the bacteria. This is definitely not recommended! If you really don’t want to waste it, you can use unused tea as a natural deodorant and put it in your shoe cabinet to absorb odors, or you can use the brewed tea residue as fertilizer to make the best use of it.
(Image source: Sohu)
3. Avoid placing items with odorous items
Tea leaves have a porous tissue structure, which means they can easily emit aroma and absorb other odors. The drier the tea leaves, the stronger its ability to absorb external odors, and it is also difficult to restore the smelly tea leaves to normal. Therefore, do not put strong-smelling things together with the tea leaves, otherwise the smell will easily change.
#"I heard that tea can be stored in a rice vat. Is this correct?"
don't want! We all recommend that the opened tea leaves be stored in tea cans or sealed to avoid exposure to sunlight and air, and to prevent the tea leaves from absorbing external odors. However, the rice vat always retains the smell of grain and is not suitable for preserving tea leaves.
(Image source: Free Times)
These are some key points on how to store tea. The drinking date on the tea package is just a suggestion given by tea merchants to consumers. However, if you understand the characteristics of tea and choose the right kind of tea to store, the aroma and flavor of the tea that has been baptized by time will also have a completely different feeling. As long as the storage method is proper, the tea can be stored for a long time and transform into a mellow and delicious tea. Tea.
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