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Taking care
of your tea
Great tea
requires careful processing to achieve the fine balance of flavor and aroma.
Once exposed to oxygen and moisture, this balance is inevitably altered, and the
quality of the tea starts to slowly deteriorate. To increase our chances of
enjoying tea at its best, the first place to start is with proper
storage.
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Keep away from
air, light, heat, moisture and odors
These five
elements will eventually cause tea to alter or lose its flavor. Keeping tea in
an airtight container will prevent this from happening. Store in cool, dry
places, and avoid placing it near any heat. Do not store tea in the
refrigerator (except for long term storage of green teas), as condensation can ruin the leaves. Finally, all teas will leave
some residual odor in whatever they are stored in, so make sure to wash the
container out well if reusing for other teas.
Pu-erh teas are the
exception, as slight air exposure and variable temperatures actually help them
age better. However, it's important to keep them away from odors and excessive
moisture.
Our loose leaf tea comes in light-proof, re-closeable bags.
Layers of foil-lined plastic keeps the tea fresh for several months. Many
companies use traditional tins with flashy packaging, but most of its
folded-seams are NOT totally airtight. As tea sits on a store shelf for months,
the disappointing result is loss of flavor.
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How long will tea
stay fresh?
If stored
properly, many teas can stay fresh for up to a year. Keep in mind that every
tea is different, and many variables can affect the storage conditions. The
less oxidized the leaf, the more delicate that tea is, which means it will lose
flavor more quickly when exposed to air. This is especially true for white and
green teas, while blacks and darker oolongs tend to retain flavor longer,
sometimes even up to two years! In general, try to drink teas within a few
months of purchase. Think of it like the dried herbs in your kitchen - tea won't
spoil, but over time its aroma and flavor will
diminish.
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Decorative
containers, boxes or tins
For personal
consumption, every culture has their own unique storage methods. In Japan,
matcha is kept in decorative containers that are only meant to hold tea for a
short time. Many are exquisitely crafted in bamboo, ceramic, lacquer or wood. In
China, aged Pu-erh teas are often stored in earthenware containers that are not
airtight, because this particular tea needs to �breathe� as it ages over time.
Chinese teas often come sealed in foil, within decorative cardboard canisters or
round tins. Indian teas are widely kept in airtight square tins, which was an
influence left over from the British. |
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Airtight and
lightproof containers are best
These sturdy,
non-porous containers come with a silicone seal and clamp-down lid. Our Beehouse
canisters are made in Japan, and both our restaurant clients and customers alike
find it very reliable for keeping tea fresh.
How much tea for which size
container? It all depends on your tea! Full leaf white teas are voluminous and
take up more storage space than a tightly rolled oolong. You can always store
what you can in a container, and drink first what is left in our re-sealable
bag.
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