| Properly stored tea leaves can retain their | | | | them in your refrigerator. |
| freshness for several months, often even longer. | | | | Fourthly, be extremely careful not to bottle or |
| Improperly stored tea, however, can lose its | | | | seal your teas in a humid environment. Putting |
| flavor and aroma very quickly. There are a few | | | | your teas into an air-tight container while standing |
| key conditions that you need to be aware of in | | | | next to a steaming kettle will seal humid air into |
| order to keep your loose leaf tea fresh. | | | | the container, possibly leading to condensation and |
| First of all, tea will lose its flavor if exposed to | | | | ruining your tea. If you find a tea container with |
| sunlight, even in an air-tight glass jar. You will | | | | traces of condensation, you must carefully |
| often see tea shops which store their loose leaf | | | | examine the tea leaves for signs of mold. If you |
| tea in glass jars so that their customers can see | | | | are unsure how long the tea has been sitting in |
| the tea. Most of these stores, however, serve | | | | this condition, better play it safe, toss it into the |
| the customer from another light-proof container in | | | | compost, and order a new batch. Drinking moldy |
| the back, and the glass jars are for display only. If | | | | tea is an extreme health hazard. |
| you visit a tea house where they serve you right | | | | If you live in a very humid environment, the best |
| out of a glass container exposed to light, I would | | | | way to store your tea would be in a compostable |
| advise you to look for another tea house, | | | | paper bag with a food grade liner with a tie to |
| because this tea will not have the exquisite taste | | | | close the bag, and consume it within a few |
| of premium tea. At home, it is best to store your | | | | weeks. It is very difficult to effectively store tea |
| tea in a dark container, and keep it in a closed | | | | in humid environments for a long time, and it |
| cupboard away from light. | | | | would be best if you purchased smaller quantities |
| Secondly, loose leaf tea must be stored in an | | | | of tea and consumed it faster, so that extended |
| air-tight container. The oxidation process that | | | | storage would not be necessary. Putting |
| occurs when tea is exposed to the air can | | | | desiccants into your packaging is very hazardous |
| destroy the aroma of the tea very quickly. When | | | | to your health and should never be seen as a |
| I say an air-tight container, I do not mean a Ziploc | | | | solution to keeping tea leaves dry. |
| plastic bag, which is not air-tight at all. If you want | | | | Our solution to storing loose tea [ at home, is to |
| to test whether or not the container you are | | | | use small mason jars, which are kept in a closed |
| using is air tight, store a small amount of a very | | | | dark cupboard, away from light or any kitchen |
| aromatic tea, such as Earl Grey, in the container | | | | appliances that generate heat. The bottles are |
| you are testing, and let it sit for a day. If you can | | | | only taken out for a short amount of time when |
| smell the tea by sniffing the container, then it is | | | | using it to make tea, and we make sure not to |
| most definitely not air tight and you should look | | | | bring it near the boiling kettle to prevent any |
| for an alternate solution. | | | | steam from getting into the bottle. If you can't |
| Thirdly, the tea should be kept in a cool | | | | store your container in a dark cupboard, make |
| environment. The freshness of the tea leaves are | | | | sure it's made of a material that is opaque, such |
| best preserved in a cool environment. For black, | | | | as stainless steel. Please don't use plastic, as it can |
| green, and white teas, a storage place that is not | | | | transfer and absorb odors, and leach out harmful |
| in direct sunlight or close to kitchen appliances that | | | | chemicals. |
| generate heat should be sufficiently cool to | | | | By following these simple steps, you can be |
| maintain freshness. For herbal teas such as | | | | assured to always have a fresh, flavorful, and |
| peppermint or chamomile, you may need to store | | | | aromatic tea experience. |