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Tea is a popular drink in many countries, not only because of its delicious taste but also because of its health benefits such as increasing alertness, providing antioxidants, and promoting relaxation.
Depending on the processing method and production area, tea can have many different flavors and characteristics. Teas such as green tea, black tea, oolong tea, white tea all come from this tea plant, but they are processed by different methods (such as fermented or unfermented) to create their own unique characteristics.
Tea is a product that is easily oxidized. If not stored properly, it will darken, lose flavor, have mold, and reduce the value of the tea. Therefore, it is necessary to have ways to preserve tea according to each type of tea to help preserve the essence of each cup of tea.
Preserving and storing dry or fresh tea should usually be in a dry place, with humidity below 6%, recommended at 3% to 4% or in the refrigerator (preferably 0°C), vacuum-sealed and kept in ideal light and temperature conditions.
1. Store in the refrigerator
Storing tea in the refrigerator can help preserve the freshness and flavor of the tea, but there are a few things to keep in mind to avoid affecting the quality of the tea.
Storing brewed tea
- Brewed tea can be stored in the refrigerator for about 2-3 days. After brewing, you should put the tea in a sealed container or glass jar to avoid the smell of other foods in the refrigerator.
- If the tea has added sugar or other ingredients (such as lemon, honey), you should consume it within 1-2 days to avoid spoiling the tea.
Storing dry tea
- Dry tea should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and humid air. If you want to store dry tea in the refrigerator, put the tea in a sealed container or a moisture-proof zip bag to prevent moisture from the refrigerator from damaging the quality of the tea.
- Avoid taking tea out and putting it in the refrigerator too many times, because the change in temperature can make the tea lose its original flavor. Instead, you should take a sufficient amount of tea for each use.
Notes when storing tea in the refrigerator
- Do not store brewed tea in the refrigerator for too long, because the tea can lose its flavor and quality.
- Make sure the tea is stored in a sealed container to avoid exposure to air for too long, because this can cause the tea to lose its flavor and quality.
2. Store tea in glass, metal, tin, wooden containers
Wooden, iron, stainless steel, glass, and tin cans have a solid structure, are designed to stand with a tight lid, and help the tea avoid contact with the outside air.
Notes before storing tea
- Clean it briefly by putting a small amount of broken tea into the jar, closing the lid, and shaking it continuously to remove odors and clean the jar.
- After putting the tea in the container, place it in a cool place, do not leave it in places affected by direct sunlight, where there is no smell, humidity, high heat source, avoid rusting, oxidation of the container if it is made of metal
3. Preserve with aluminum bags, zip bags
Use modern, specialized aluminum bags or zip bags to store tea. The air in the zip bag is pushed out after putting the tea in, zip it tightly and put it in the refrigerator, you can seal the bag with a bag sealer, put it in a tightly tied plastic bag.
4. Preserve tea with food bags
If the amount of tea to be stored is not too much, it needs to be used within a few days, you can wrap the tea in a piece of white, odorless paper, wrap it with a layer of kraft paper and wrap it with a layer of food wrap on the outside, avoid gaps, squeeze lightly to let all the air out and tie the bag tightly.
Note:
- Moldy tea can be harmful to your health, so if the tea is severely moldy and has a strange smell or signs of spoilage, it is best not to use it and throw it away.
- To avoid moldy tea in the future, carefully check the humidity in the storage space and store the tea in airtight containers or moisture-proof bags.
If the tea is only slightly damp and you handle it promptly, it can still be saved and continued to be used. But if there are signs of severe mold, it is best to discard it to protect your health.