Besides coffee, tea is one of the most popular drinks in the UK and worldwide. Be it hot or cold, as black tea, green tea, loose leaf or in a bag, with aromas or completely natural: tea provides a smorgasbord of flavours and aromas beyond compare. It can have an invigorating as well as calming effect and is the go-to drink for some me time, for relaxing and unwinding.
We have put together a few important tips and advice on how to store tea properly in order to preserve and protect the different aromas in the best possible way. Moreover, you will find out how long and where different teas can be stored, what kind of containers are best suited for storage and how each tea has different requirements – so you can have the perfect tea experience and enjoy every cuppa.
Tea is a natural product that needs to be treated very carefully in order to preserve the various aromas and taste for as long as possible. It is generally recommended to brew tea fresh and to store it properly – regardless of whether you prefer black or green tea, herbal or fruit tea.
You should always store tea in a cool place to preserve its aromas and valuable substances. Moreover, the tea should be stored away from light and air-tight to prevent its aromas from evaporating or being degraded. Furthermore, you need to ensure that the tea leaves cannot absorb any strong odours, such as spices or coffee. You can avoid all that by storing it in an air-tight container or a glass jar with a secure (screw-on) lid.
Green tea does not have a very long shelf life. The concentration of valuable plant substances decreases at a faster rate over time and the characteristic aromas also suffer when stored for too long. Especially high-quality green teas and semi-oxidised oolong teas are, therefore, best stored in the refrigerator, namely in an air-tight container so that the tea doesn’t absorb any unwanted odours.
As these teas are semi-oxidised, they react more intensely than other teas when exposed to atmospheric oxygen, which changes the taste and aromas the longer they are stored. So, you should not only store high-quality green tea in a cool place, but also in a container that is completely air-tight, such as a porcelain caddy with a rubber seal.
Tea is a natural product that needs to be treated very carefully in order to preserve the various aromas and taste for as long as possible. It is generally recommended to brew tea fresh and to store it properly – regardless of whether you prefer black or green tea, herbal or fruit tea.
You should always store tea in a cool place to preserve its aromas and valuable substances. Moreover, the tea should be stored away from light and air-tight to prevent its aromas from evaporating or being degraded. Furthermore, you need to ensure that the tea leaves cannot absorb any strong odours, such as spices or coffee. You can avoid all that by storing it in an air-tight container or a glass jar with a secure (screw-on) lid.
Green tea does not have a very long shelf life. The concentration of valuable plant substances decreases at a faster rate over time and the characteristic aromas also suffer when stored for too long. Especially high-quality green teas and semi-oxidised oolong teas are, therefore, best stored in the refrigerator, namely in an air-tight container so that the tea doesn’t absorb any unwanted odours.
As these teas are semi-oxidised, they react more intensely than other teas when exposed to atmospheric oxygen, which changes the taste and aromas the longer they are stored. So, you should not only store high-quality green tea in a cool place, but also in a container that is completely air-tight, such as a porcelain caddy with a rubber seal.
Tea should be stored away from direct sunlight and other heat sources such as radiators and electrical appliances. It is best to keep it at room temperature, at about 19 °C.
Tea enthusiasts know to put their tea in opaque storage jars with a lid. Caddies made from wood, porcelain or metal are perfect, but when it comes to the latter, you should always make sure that the tins are rust-proof and food-safe. As for tea in bags, you can also use a special tea storage box where you can organise and present your different teas. If you decide to store your tea in a glass jar, keep it away from light in a storage box. This will protect the tea from damaging sunlight.
By way of comparison, black tea is not that demanding when it comes to storage as it is fermented during the production process – this makes it significantly less sensitive to environmental influences. This tea simply needs to be stored in a closed container, which could be made from metal, ceramic, glass or wood. However, black tea should also be kept in a dry and dark place to preserve its aromas for longer.
If you prefer tea bags to loose leaf tea, then buy smaller amounts more frequently instead of stockpiling. As a rule of thumb, don’t buy more tea in bags than you expect to drink within six months. Then you can always be sure that the tea you brew is of fresh quality and full of aroma.
Tea should be stored away from direct sunlight and other heat sources such as radiators and electrical appliances. It is best to keep it at room temperature, at about 19 °C.
Tea enthusiasts know to put their tea in opaque storage jars with a lid. Containers made from wood, porcelain or metal are perfect, but when it comes to the latter, you should always make sure that the tins are rust-proof and food-safe. As for tea in bags, you can also use a special tea storage box where you can organise and present your different teas. If you decide to store your tea in a glass jar, keep it away from light in a storage box. This will protect the tea from damaging sunlight.
By way of comparison, black tea is not that demanding when it comes to storage as it is fermented during the production process – this makes it significantly less sensitive to environmental influences. This tea simply needs to be stored in a closed container, which could be made from metal, ceramic, glass or wood. However, black tea should also be kept in a dry and dark place to preserve its aromas for longer.
If you prefer tea bags to loose leaf tea, then buy smaller amounts more frequently instead of stockpiling. As a rule of thumb, don’t buy more tea in bags than you expect to drink within six months. Then you can always be sure that the tea you brew is of fresh quality and full of aroma.
Every tea tastes different and has a different shelf life. If the original packaging is still sealed, black tea will usually last for up to 3 years, and just as long if stored properly after it has been opened, i.e. air-tight and in a dark place at a moderate temperature.
Pu-erh tea and white tea have to breathe and should, therefore, not be stored in an air-tight container like other teas. However, fruit tea and flavoured teas should be stored in a sealed container, yet they usually won’t last for longer than two years.
Strictly speaking, fruit and herbal teas are not really tea (which is produced from the leaves of the tea plant), but infusions. This is why these hot drinks do not contain any invigorating caffeine or theine, which makes herbal and fruit teas also the perfect thirst quencher for children. Moreover, fruit teas have a wide spectrum of various aromas, depending on which fruit and other ingredients it contains.
Herbal teas from e.g. camomile, peppermint or sage are traditionally drank to combat symptoms of specific diseases as their essential oils have a febrifugal, expectorant or calming effect, depending on the herb. However, there is also an increasing number of herbal tea lovers who drink the infusions because they like the taste and also use other medicinal herbs.
Regardless of whether fruit or herbal tea: these teas should be stored just like “proper” tea, i.e. air-tight, in a dry and cool place so that the aromas and health-promoting substances can be preserved for as long as possible.
Every tea tastes different and has a different shelf life. If the original packaging is still sealed, black tea will usually last for up to 3 years, and just as long if stored properly after it has been opened, i.e. air-tight and in a dark place.
Pu-erh tea and white tea have to breathe and should, therefore, not be stored in an air-tight container like other teas. However, fruit tea and flavoured teas should be stored in an air-tight container, yet they usually do not last for longer than two years.
Strictly speaking, fruit and herbal teas are not really tea (which is produced from the leaves of the tea plant), but infusions. This is why these hot drinks do not contain any invigorating caffeine or theine, which makes herbal and fruit teas also the perfect thirst quencher for children. Moreover, fruit teas have a wide spectrum of various aromas, depending on which fruit and other ingredients it contains.
Herbal teas from e.g. camomile, peppermint or sage are traditionally drank to combat symptoms of specific diseases as their essential oils have a febrifugal, expectorant or calming effect, depending on the herb. However, there is also an increasing number of herbal tea lovers who drink the infusions because they like the taste and also use other medicinal herbs.
Regardless of whether fruit or herbal tea: these teas should be stored just like “proper” tea, i.e. air-tight, in a dry and cool place so that the aromas and health-promoting substances can be preserved for as long as possible.
Pantry moths are not only a nuisance, but can breed uncontrollably once they have settled in the kitchen or larder. Because humans provide them with the ideal conditions, especially as they are not very fussy about their food. Although pantry moths cannot actually live on tea (neither black, green or white), fruit tea – especially tea that contains pieces of real fruit, fresh or dried – is nutritional and attractive for moths. This is why you should always use caddies or glass jars that close firmly to store fruit tea and only leave them open in the kitchen for a very short amount of time. This makes it much more difficult for pantry moths to settle, and you can enjoy your delicious fruit tea blends for longer.
Pantry moths are not only a nuisance, but can breed uncontrollably once they have settled in the kitchen or larder. Because humans provide them with the ideal conditions, especially as they are not very fussy about their food. Although pantry moths cannot actually live on tea (neither black, green or white), fruit tea – especially tea that contains pieces of real fruit, fresh or dried – is nutritional and attractive for moths. This is why you should always use caddies or glass jars that close firmly to store fruit tea and only leave them open in the kitchen for a very short amount of time. This makes it much more difficult for pantry moths to settle, and you can enjoy your delicious fruit tea blends for longer.
