Tea is commonly packaged in teabags and is easily available in supermarkets and health stores. But it comes in other forms such as loose leaves, compressed into tea bricks also known as tea cakes, and ready-to-drink bottled or canned tea. Whatever form you prefer, another thing to consider, that is mostly overlooked, is proper tea storage. Read more to learn more about proper tea storage, tips, and products you can use for organization.
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Importance of Proper Tea Storage
Proper tea storage is equally important as tea can go stale much faster if it isn’t stored well. This can affect the tea’s appearance, aroma, flavor, overall quality, and health benefits. When it is not properly stored, tea can deteriorate more quickly, and its shelf life will be shortened. A number of factors could cause its deterioration including heat, moisture, light, impurities, and surrounding odors.
Oxygen is an extremely reactive element when in contact with food for a prolonged period, it causes spoilage, degradation of nutrients, discoloration, and impairment of flavor. The main focus when considering storage is getting an air-tight container that would prohibit the oxygen to penetrate as it causes the leaves to oxidize faster. The process of oxidation starts from the moment the leaves are picked, some tea variants are less oxidized including green, yellow, and white teas, while black and oolong teas are more oxidized. In addition, leaves that are broken in smaller pieces can deteriorate faster.
Tips on Tea Storage
Store your tea in a cool, dry place
Moisture and humidity can shorten and affect the quality of the tea, it could even cause molds to grow. In addition, heat is another factor that can make your tea oxidize
Keep your tea in the dark
It is best to avoid exposing it to light as this can cause your tea to deteriorate. UV rays from sunlight can bleach the leaves, which would strip away their natural flavor and aroma. If you are tempted to stash them in that pretty clear jar, make sure you store it away inside a dark cabinet or your pantry room.
Selecting the ideal tea storage container
First of all, make sure that your container is safe for food-use, as some containers use materials that are not safe for food storage. Second, as much as possible choose one that is opaque as it will block the sunlight. Some of the best materials to use are ceramic, porcelain, clay, colored glass, and metal.
Airtight containers for tea storage
Examples of tight sealed containers include double lids and odor-free silicone seals. The air moisture and oxygen can degrade the tea and provoke oxidation. When storing dry tea leaves, the less air it is exposed to, the longer the shelf life will last. It is advised to fill the container up until the lid with tea to free it from the excess air when stored.
Keep your tea away from strong odors
Tea leaves can easily absorb strong smells from its surroundings. While it may seem sensible to keep your tea with other food items such as spices, this is not the best place for it to be. Different kinds of teas should also be stored separately, keeping the strong-scented varieties away from the more delicate ones. Be mindful of the containers you use as well, those that are stained with strong odor could also affect your tea.
What tea storage containers to avoid
The material of the container would work hand-in-hand with where you would place them. Glass and acrylic are fine, as long as they are new, do not have any smell, and will be stored in a dark place.
Tea storages that are made of wood are also okay, but it does depend on the kind of wood as some have a naturally strong smell. Acacia is a sturdy non-endangered hardwood that resists decay and moisture, Rosewood, on the other hand, commonly used for furniture and musical instruments should be avoided as it has a natural fragrance that would affect the tea.
The most ideal materials are metal tins, it is opaque and it is fragrant-neutral – just be sure you get the ones that are airtight. At the same time, Bamboo containers are also common and preferred.
Buy enough for immediate consumption
While it’s tempting to stock up for a year’s worth of tea in every flavor, leaving it on display for months would depreciate its quality. Go by the rule First In, First Out. Buy two variants one caffeinated, and the other non-caffeinated. Finish that batch before buying more.
Know your tea
While the tips above generally work for all types, learning about your teas and their shelf life would guide you in choosing the best storage options. For example, green and yellow teas have a shorter shelf life and oxidize more quickly than other types. Keeping them at lower temperatures will preserve them better. Oolong and black teas are both oxidized before processing. They can last longer compared to other teas and may be kept in metal cans, ceramic, or porcelain jars. On the other hand, pu’er or phu-erh tea, a fermented tea produced in Yunnan province in China, this can last for many years and is considered better when aged. It can be preserved in its original packaging, stored in a carton or wooden boxes, or packed in paper, bamboo, or cotton wrappers.
Create a menu list
Imagine having a very large jar where you store all of you teabags, you’re thinking of making a peppermint tea, so you either dive your whole arm in the jar in search of a teabag, or you would take out all of the contents on your kitchen counter only to find out you are out of it.
A tea menu list would easily let you know what varieties are in your tea storage. This would be more convenient for you and if you are having some guests over to know what variety you can serve. It is also beneficial to leave your tea untouched unless you will finally serve it to avoid air from getting in.
Get a smaller tea storage container
If you like to stock up on several kinds of teas at the same time, it is helpful to keep them organized. For big bags of loose leaves, get a small tin can or glass jar enough for 3-5 servings, and keep the big bag in the pantry while the smaller jar is readily available when you need it. This advice is good as to not expose the large batch of loose leaves to oxygen and moisture every time you would get for one serving.
Store leftover tea in the refrigerator
If you brewed too much tea to consume in one sitting, you could store any leftovers in the refrigerator. Transfer the tea into an airtight container, and it could last around three to five days.
Storing ready-to-drink tea
Bottled and canned teas come with a “best by” date, and you could keep them in your pantry away from sunlight for that long if they remain unopened. Once opened, they could last about seven to ten days in the refrigerator.
Throwing out bad tea
Now that you are more familiar with the importance of oxygen, sunlight, and proper tea storage you will be more conscious of your tea stash in the kitchen. Generally, stale tea is still safe for consumption even if it has lost its aroma and flavor. However, where there is mold, you have to throw them away. And that means the entire batch, as molds easily transfer and most-likely the other leaves were exposed to the same amount of moisture and sunlight.
Best Products for Tea Storage Organization
Tea Stand
If you prefer using teabags, you could keep them organized in a teabag stand. It has clear, removable bins where you could store different varieties and view them easily. Vertical organizers are space savers, making this a great for any kitchen or pantry size. Get Yours Here!
Rotating Tea Holder Organizer
This wooden carousel storage box from Bambüsi has four compartments, each with a mount where you could display a packaging of the variant to see what flavor it contains. Not only does this stand keep your favorite teabags organized, but it also looks good in the kitchen or even as a centerpiece on a table. Get Yours Here!
Wooden Tea Storage Chest
For a luxurious touch, store your tea bags in a wooden tea storage chest from The Bamboo Leaf. Their elegant boxes are made of high-quality materials and come in cherrywood, walnut, natural, and black. They are available in windowed and non-windowed versions. Get Yours Here!
Stainless Steel Airtight Canister
Keep your tea leaves fresh in an airtight stainless steel canister from Oggy. It has a see-through lid and silicone seal to keep the freshness in. Get Yours Here!
Tea Storage Containers
If you like keeping several kinds of loose tea leaves at a time, small tea tins like the ones will keep them fresh and organized. The containers are made of quality tinplate and have double lids to keep them airtight. They come in different patterns and add a decorative touch and a pop of color to your kitchen. Get Yours Here!
Ceramic Tea Storage Jar
This durable ceramic jar from Ciroa has a bamboo lid with an airtight silicone seal that keeps moisture and odors away. It’s simple design will look good on any tabletop or pantry shelf. Get Yours Here!
Porcelain Loose Tea Caddy
When your tea caddy is as beautiful as this porcelain caddy with peony flowers, it could double as a decorative piece for your home. This airtight container preserves the taste of tea by keeping them fresh and dry. It has a smooth finish and sports a tassel on its lid for extra style. Get Yours Here!
Stackable Bottle Stand
If you like to stock up on bottled teas, you can keep them organized in this stackable bottle stand from mDesign. Each rack can hold up to three bottles and can be stacked to save space in the pantry or in the refrigerator. Get Yours Here!
Piscepio Cup Rack
Keep your tea set organized with a cup rack like this one from Piscepio. It has hooks to hold six cups, and a basket on the bottom where you could store saucers, teaspoons, and tea strainers. It makes it easier to store in a cabinet and carry to the dining table. Get Yours Here!
Mini Tin Box Container
If you’re a big tea drinker, these mini tin boxes are great as a portable tea leaves containers. Brew a cup of your favorite tea after a heavy meal at your friend’s house or while you are on a vacation. It fits several teabags or loose leaves. Get Yours Here!
Tea Set Organizer
Tea sets can be very expensive. Their intricate design makes it challenging to store sometimes as they are not often stackable and they are sensitive to chipping. This tea set organizer can let you keep all the teacups in one bag but separated with a divider and the bulky teapot in a separate bag. Get Yours Here!
Removable Drawers Tea Bag Holder
This vertical teabag organizer is perfect for small kitchens with limited countertop space. It holds up to nine teabag variants, and two extra drawers for sugar and artificial sweetener packs. It’s available in black, red, and white. Get Yours Here!
Drawer Dividers
This is the holy grail of drawer organization. It’s super flexible and you can decide and alter the measurements you need. The plastic dividers storage is easy to snap together for assembly and removal. Use this for tea storage in your drawer, keeping them away from sunlight, moisture, and easily grouping the variants together. Get Yours Here!
Whether you are a newbie in the world of tea or a long-time tea aficionado, proper tea storage is something one should keep in mind. Keep your tea leaves fresh and full of flavor for a long time with the right container. Learning about proper tea storage is vital when looking for the right containers which are easily available online and in the mall. So avoid letting your tea go stale and apply the proper tea storage techniques you have learned today.
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