Did you know that how you store your tea can affect the overall aroma and taste? Whether your collection is filled with just a handful of teas or a large variety, how you store your tea matters. This goes for loose leaf tea or tea bags and all types of teas, too. It doesn’t matter if it’s jasmine, chai, earl grey, hojicha or even chamomile. Fortunately, the proper tea storage does not have to be complicated or overwhelming. But, taking the time to learn and reorganize the teas you have in your home will help them stay fresh and save you money in the long run. So, let’s chat about how to store tea properly!
Tea Storage Frequently Asked Questions
Before we jump into 5 helpful tips to store tea properly and make sure your tea collection stays fresh longer, here are some frequently asked questions!
Most teas should come with a best before date. This means the flavours of the tea should remain the same until that date if stored properly. But, tea deteriorates with age so it may get stale over time.
It can! Especially if the tea bags are filled with smaller leaves and/or dust. Smaller tea leaves can expire faster.
The same theory goes with tea powders (ie. matcha and hojicha). The finer particles are more susceptible to losing freshness. Therefore, tea powders are often best if used 1-2 months after opening.
Although tea can expire, it doesn’t necessarily mean tea will go bad and that you can no longer drink it for safety reasons.
Most teas past the best before date can still be consumed, but it may not taste as fresh as when consumed earlier.
Of course this is only if the tea still looks and smells okay. No mold should be growing on the leaves. Be sure to dispose of tea leaves or tea bags if moldy or smell odd.
You can freeze brewed tea (iced tea, anyone?!) but do not freeze tea bags or tea leaves. Storing tea in the freezer won’t actually preserve it. Instead it will lose its natural flavours.
While you may not enjoy it straight as a tea because of the lack of flavour, you could try cooking with tea or roasting the leaves to give them new life, too.
Alternatively, compost expired tea leaves. Your garden will thank you!
If composting tea bags, please double check that they are entirely compostable first though. While tea leaves are, sometimes the tea bag’s material may not be nor the string and tea tag.
Tea Shelf Life
The shelf life of every tea is different. It varies depending on a few factors like the tea and quality, but these are the general guidelines if stored properly.
Green tea and white tea have the shortest shelf life at about 6 months to 1 year.
Oolong tea is 1-2 years and black tea is 2 years or more.
Dark tea (such as puerh tea) is suitable for long-term aging.
Tea shelf life will differ if talking about tea blends though. Some ingredients in blends (ie. dried fruit, essential oils) may expire more quickly than the tea leaves.
In this case, pay attention to the best before dates on the tea packaging and examine the tea before steeping to make sure it smells and looks okay.
5 Tips to Store Tea Properly
Tea will last longer if it is kept away from oxygen, heat, light, odours and moisture. Follow these tips to store tea properly so you can still enjoy your tea months or years to come!
1. Store tea in an airtight container.
Tea leaves can continue to oxidize when exposed to air/oxygen. This will greatly affect the taste of a tea.
For instance, green teas are less oxidized when compared to other types of teas. So, not only will the overall freshness be affected but also the colour of the leaves. Green tea is generally green in colour, but the leaves may turn brown if exposed to air for long periods of time.
To limit the exposure, always keep tea leaves or tea bags in an airtight container. This can be a resealable jar or resealable pouch.
If using a jar, the best material to store tea in is tin, stainless steel or ceramic.
I store most of my teas in the packaging they came in if it is resealable. I like keeping them in the pouches because I am able to squeeze out any extra air before sealing. This isn’t really possible if storing in jars, so it’s best to keep the jars full to limit the space for air/oxygen.
Best Tea Storage Containers:
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Tea Tin Canister with Airtight Double Lids
Ceramic Tea Canister with Airtight Bamboo Lid
Stainless Steel Tea Storage Container with Airtight Double Lid
2. Store tea in a cool and dark space.
Loose leaf tea or tea bags should always be stored away from direct light and heat. This is because light can affect the freshness of tea and heat can degrade it.
This is why you should not store your tea near windows or any appliances that may give off heat (ie. stoves and microwaves).
One of the best places to store tea so that it stays cool and away from light is in a closed cupboard or pantry.
If you can not store your tea in a closed cupboard, consider opaque containers.
Glass or other see-through jars and pouches may be a fun way to store tea so you can beautifully display and present them but these types of containers will let light through. Therefore, it is not a proper way to store tea long term.
3. Store tea away from strong odours.
A cupboard or pantry may be a good spot to keep tea away from light, but not if it is near other items that may give off a strong aroma.
Tea can easily absorb any odours that are around them. Therefore, avoid storing tea near things like coffee, herbs and spices or your English Breakfast black tea may start to taste like chili powder.
It is also a good idea to organize your tea stash so that scented teas or blended teas are not too close to pure teas. For example, if you store a masala chai blend too close to a sencha green tea the aroma and taste may change.
4. Store tea dry and away from moisture.
The only time tea leaves or tea bags should be wet is when it is steeping. Otherwise, tea is dry and should stay dry when storing as any type of moisture can ruin it.
Avoid storing tea in the refrigerator or freezer for this reason. The process of condensation will create moisture that tea can absorb.
Matcha and some other tea powders are an exception though, however they should still be stored away from other items that give off strong odours.
5. Purchase fresh tea in smaller quantities.
Purchasing tea from a recent harvest means it will have a longer shelf life. Try to find out how old a tea is before buying it so you can know how long you have to consume it.
While you might be tempted to stock up on tea when there is a sale, it may not be that beneficial when you look at the bigger picture.
If you look at your tea drinking habits and don’t think you can get through a certain amount of tea within its shelf life period, consider buying smaller amounts at a time. This way the bulk tea that was very inexpensive won’t be left in your cupboard or pantry for years and deteriorates.
Of course, if it is a tea you consume regularly and know you will go through fast, buying in bulk may be the more affordable and economical option.
But, especially if it is a tea you have yet to try, a sample size would be better so then you’re also not left with a lot of tea that you may not have enjoyed.
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How do you like to store your tea at home? Let me know in the comments!
If I have some 5 year old Purah tea (the “pucks) and I store it for 2 years, does it become 7 year tea/ or just old 5 year tea?
I am going to be redoing my tea setup so this was super helpful. Thanks Lu Ann!
Such a useful article! Do you have tips on eliminating orders in tea canisters? For example, eliminating the lovely bergamot scent in a canister that had Earl Grey because you need the canister for pure tea or a completely different blended tea? I have tried using baking powder, but I have had limited success. TIA !
Glad you find it useful! That’s a great question. I usually have success with baking soda. I clean it with a bit of baking soda and water and it’s good to go. For stronger odours though, I let the baking soda sit in the tea tin longer.
Thanks, Lu Ann. I will have to be more patient with the baking soda method.
Hope you are having a good spring!
Great tips! People who’re serious about their loose-leaf tea should also educate about the growing process of the tea, as it can inform about the best times to buy tea. For instance, some teas are gathered in spring, if you buy them in winter, you can be sure you’re getting tea that’s at least half a year old. Some teas, like matcha can lose their freshness very quickly, so half a year may be fine for some teas, but mean “expired” for others.