TEA CARE

DOES LOOSE LEAF TEA EXPIRE?

Have you ever wondered if loose leaf tea expires? They have a life 18 to 24 months and can be consumed if it does not give a regular smell.  Certainly not harmful if you drink the expired loose-leaf tea, as it has just lost the aroma, flavour, and/or colour.

However, it does not apply to every tea blend. The treatment with dry tea leaves, flowers, or fruits strictly demands the proper shelf life. Refrigeration does not work well for these teas; this only applies to the dry leaves not the moisturised flower or fruit-based tea blends.

 

HOW TO STORE LOOSE LEAF TEA!

Always store your teas in a cool and dark place, away from sunlight, and in sealed airtight containers. Glass jars are not preferable to store tea leaves as they allow sunlight to enter and damage the tea leaves over time, which will slowly change the flavour of your tea. If you are storing your teas in pouches, make sure that there is the least amount of air in the bag, this will increase the life of your tea and keep it intact and flavourful for a longer span. But it is best to store tea leaves in containers made of ceramic or tin because they do not allow sunlight at all.

 

BLACK TEA

Black Tea has a shelf life for around 18 to 24 months, if it is kept in an airtight (not glass) container. This tea loses less flavour as compared to herbal tea, as black and green teas carry moisture which assists taste for a longer duration even after they aroma departs.

 

GREEN TEA

Green tea is known for its fresh earthly taste and the natural aroma. It can expire within 30 minutes of daylight exposure as it is too sensitive. One needs to make sure it is stored in the airtight container in a cool dry place. However, they normally expire in 6 months to 12 months losing the oily flavour of the tea leaves.

 

CHAMOMILE TEA

Chamomile tea certainly loses the aroma and its natural flavour after reaching a point of time, between 6 to 12 months.  This tea is also drinkable if it loses the aroma because the flavour is still present between these times. This tea, however, has 24 months of estimated life and does not expire any time soon. Unless exposed them to heat and incorrect storage.

 

DOES HERBAL TEA EXPIRE?

Herbal tea expires earlier with losing taste more than the green and black tea. As they contain natural dried flowers and leaves, with no moisturiser. It also makes it hard to intake tea for its richness in raw elements. The reason why it becomes stale like by the time of its expiration, losing the taste more than the aroma and colour.

 

DOES TEA EXPIRE ONCE BREWED?

Yes, as brewed tea is the most sensitive tea it can expire if not consumed in time.  Also, the hot brewed tea is most likely to expire sooner than cold-brewed tea.

Cold-brewed can be stored in the fridge just after it is prepared, such as Iced Tea Bases. These teas have a shorter life span, and one cannot rely upon them for a longer duration. Also keeping brewed tea covered will allow it to have a longer life span but keep in mind that once exposed bacteria can settle in and the tea can become harmful if consumed.

 

WHAT TO DO WITH EXPIRED TEA?

Before throwing away your expired tea there is a simple test you can try to truly check is tea is past the recommended time. Never assume if it does not give that aroma, it did on purchase as aroma evaporates over time. So, taste it, if it tastes good then congratulations your tea is not expired yet. But if it gives a foul smell with no taste then best put it into your organic waste bin or on your garden as a compost.

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