Tea Storage
Interesting Facts About Tea Storage
You may not realize how important proper tea storage is to the flavor of your tea. Tea is very vulnerable to air, odor, heat, light and moisture and when it becomes exposed to any of these elements it will begin to get stale and slowly lose its flavor.
When it comes to tea storage, you should know that tea is hygroscopic and absorbs any kind of moisture that is in the air and it is very sensitive to any type of environmental change. Glass jars should never be used for tea storage. Instead, air tight tea tins are recommended.
Paper is an ecologically sound choice for tea storage. This is used to internationally to ship tea around the world. Tea does not require refrigeration but if does prefer a cool, dry place. Moisture is devastating to tea since tea absorbs anything around it and any bit of moisture begins to ruin your tea. The place designated for tea storage should never be near your coffee or anything else with a strong odor such as spices, for this very same reason. Green tea is the most influenced by elements of all types of teas.
Today the tea market is such a big deal that attractive, convenient canisters and containers are available for tea storage in every color, size and design you could possibly want. Tea storage containers make excellent gifts as well. A clear container should never be used unless it will always be kept out of the light.
Tea can be compared to an ice cube. Ice cubes that are old can often taste like whatever odors are lingering in your freezer. This is exactly what tea does when proper tea storage is not achieved.
Some people store their tea in the refrigerator but this is not recommended by experts. The refrigerator can offer moisture to the tea that even in a sealed container can compromise the integrity of the tea.
When tea storage is done properly your tea can actually have an impressive shelf life and just because there is an expiration date on your tea does not mean you cannot drink it a few weeks later. Chances are it will not even begin to be stale yet. Tea is much more resilient then tea companies may want you to know.
Some people prefer loose leaf tea. This form of tea may be more expensive and down right intimidating the average tea drinker but tea storage techniques are pretty much the same. Loose leaf tea has a much shorter shelf life and essentially every time you open its storage container you are exposing it to elements. Stainless steel tins seem to be the container of choice for loose leaf tea storage. Plastic should be avoided. Plastic tends to have a distinct odor that can influence a tea of this type. Although glass is not recommended for traditional tea bags, some people have no issues storing loose leaf tea in glass as long as it is of a color such as green or brown to prevent any UV rays from affecting the tea.
A few companies have created a sort of tea caddy for tea storage. The problem with a good majority of these is that they are clearly not designed by any tea experts. Most of them are not only clear and plastic but they require you to place your tea bags all beside each other where the flavors mingle together. What is the point of buying different flavors of tea if you are going to allow the flavors to be altered?
Tea storage is simple. Avoid heat, light, air, odor and moisture and your tea bags or leaves will hold their flavor and stay fresh longer.