Tea FAQ
How should tea be stored?
Tea should be stored in a cool, dry place in a tightly sealed container, away from strong odors.
One of the worst places to store tea is in a kitchen cabinet above the stove.
- Location. When storage recommendations mention a “cool place,” this doesn’t mean the refrigerator. Room temperature is perfectly suitable for storing tea, but it’s best kept somewhere cooler — away from radiators, stoves, and prolonged direct sunlight.
- Container. Packaging with a zip-lock seal — like the pouches used for Tejo.lv teas or similar resealable bags — works very well for tea storage. Tea can also be kept in any airtight, food-safe container.
- Odors. Tea should not be stored next to spices or strongly scented foods. Even when sealed, surrounding aromas can gradually affect the tea’s flavor over time, so it’s best to keep it separate.
For best results, store tea in a tightly sealed package in a dark place, such as a cupboard outside the kitchen. If you do keep it in the kitchen, place it as far as possible from the stove, radiator, and spices.
How long can tea be stored?
Depending on the type of tea, shelf life typically ranges from two to five years or even longer. When stored properly, tea does not become unsafe to drink — it simply gradually loses some of its flavor and aroma over time.
The main factor that can spoil tea is excess moisture, which may cause mold to develop. If there are no signs of mold and the tea still tastes good, it can often be enjoyed even after the recommended best-before date.
Less oxidized teas tend to lose their freshness more quickly. This includes green tea, yellow tea, and lightly oxidized oolong teas. Black tea, as well as more heavily oxidized or roasted oolongs, generally retain their flavor for longer.
White tea and dark tea are notable exceptions. Rather than declining in quality, their flavor often becomes richer and more complex with age. While tea sold in the European Union must display a best-before date on its packaging, properly stored white and dark teas can often be enjoyed well beyond that date.
What affects the flavor of tea?
The world of tea is remarkably diverse and full of flavor. For example, simply knowing that a tea is an oolong tells you very little about how it will taste — oolong teas can vary enormously in character.
Many factors influence the final flavor of a tea:
- Growing location. The conditions in which tea is grown have a major impact on flavor. For example, tea grown at higher elevations develops more slowly, often resulting in greater depth and complexity. Soil, climate, and the surrounding environment all play an important role.
- Cultivar. Just as different apple varieties have distinct flavors, each tea cultivar brings its own unique characteristics to the cup.
- Age of the tea plan. Tea made from older plants is often considered richer and more complex. If left unpruned, Camellia sinensis can grow into a tree. Some pu-erh teas, for example, are produced from trees that are several centuries old.
- Harvest time. Both the season and the exact timing of harvest affect flavor. Spring harvest teas differ from summer or autumn harvests, and even tea picked at the beginning of a season can taste noticeably different from tea harvested later. Many of the finest teas are picked only once a year, usually in early spring.
- Leaf size. Different tea styles call for different leaf standards. Oolong and pu-erh are often made from larger leaves, while black, green, and white teas may be crafted from buds alone or from a bud with the first young leaves.
- Harvesting method. Whether tea is carefully picked by hand or harvested mechanically can have a noticeable impact on its quality.
- Processing. Each type of tea follows its own processing method, and even small variations in that process can have a noticeable effect on the final flavor.
- Weather conditions. Because weather varies from year to year, every harvest is unique.
- Brewing method. Of course, how tea is prepared also has a major impact on its taste. Water temperature, steeping time, and leaf-to-water ratio all shape the final result.
And these are only some of the factors. Tea flavor is influenced by a remarkable number of variables — which is exactly what makes tea such a fascinating world to explore.