When storing tea, attention should be paid to avoiding light exposure, moisture, odors, and high temperatures. Exposure to sunlight can cause chlorophyll in the leaves to fade, darkening the color of the tea, so care should be taken to avoid light; in damp places, tea is prone to mold, so attention should be given to moisture control; tea has a strong adsorption capacity and can easily absorb odors from other objects, altering its aroma, so care should be taken to avoid odors; additionally, high temperatures can accelerate the degradation of tea, so it's important to avoid high temperatures.
What Influences Should Be Noted During the Storage of Tea?
I. Green Tea
Storage Method: Refrigerate. If you need to store for a short period and want to drink it at any time, place green tea in the refrigerator and set the temperature to around 5°C. If the tea is unopened and you want to preserve it for over a year, then store it in the freezer.
Best Time to Drink: Within 1-2 months after opening, or within one year if unopened.
Points to Note:
1. You can use quicklime to absorb moisture from the tea, package it in an aluminum composite bag, add an oxygen absorber, and store it in the refrigerator, which will maintain the quality of the tea for about two years.
2. For home storage of premium green tea, you can use the quicklime moisture absorption storage method. Specifically, choose a sealed container, such as a ceramic Jar, Porcelain pot, or odorless metal cylinder, place quicklime blocks in a cloth bag, wrap the tea in kraft paper and place it above the cloth bag, then put them together into the container, seal the container, and place it in a cool, dry environment or in the refrigerator. This will help maintain the freshness and taste of the green tea, allowing it to emit the best aroma and flavor.
II. Yellow Tea
Storage Method: Refrigerated Storage
Best Time to Drink: Finish drinking within one year.
Points to Note: Place a desiccant in the tea bag and seal it, then put it in an aluminum foil bag and place it in a container. Seal it again in a clean plastic bag and tighten it before placing it directly in the refrigerator (with the temperature preferably controlled at around 5°C). Avoid refrigerating with other foods to prevent the tea from absorbing odors.
III. White Tea
Storage Method: Store at Room Temperature
Best Time to Drink: New white tea is usually good for around 2-3 years. Aged white tea can be stored long-term under professional warehousing conditions.
Points to Note: Avoid light exposure and keep it dry. It is recommended to tightly bind the tea in a transparent bag (sealed), then enclose it in another aluminum bag and tie it tightly (to block out light), and finally place it in a cardboard box (to absorb moisture).
IV. Oolong Tea
Storage Method: Store at room temperature in tin cans, iron cans, or double-lidded ceramic cans made of tin-plated iron.
Best Time to Drink: Best consumed within three years after opening.
Points to Note:
1. The chlorophyll in oolong tea, once exposed to light, undergoes photocatalytic reactions, so keeping it away from light is a critical condition for storing oolong tea.
2. In addition to avoiding direct sunlight, controlling moisture is absolutely necessary. Oolong tea is classified as a semi-Fermented tea, so it doesn't require the same level of careful storage as non-fermented teas. Instead, oolong tea is relatively easy to store. When canning, special attention needs to be paid to ensuring that the tea fills the can completely, reducing the possibility of oxidation, and sealing the can. This is done to maintain the premium taste and quality of the tea.
V. Black Tea
Storage Method: Store in airtight, dry containers such as tin foil or tin cans, purple clay pots, and store at room temperature (avoiding high temperatures)
Best Time to Drink: Best consumed within three years after opening. When stored properly in a cool, dry, light-free, sealed, and odorless place, black tea can be enjoyed for a long time.
Points to Note: Dried black tea contains very little moisture and is therefore prone to becoming damp or losing its fragrance. To maintain its quality, we should try to avoid mixing different types of tea during storage and stay away from light, high temperatures, and odorous items. Only by doing so can we ensure that black tea remains fresh for a longer period.
VI. Dark Tea/Puer
Storage Method: Store at room temperature, ventilated, dry, and odor-free.
Best Time to Drink: Can be stored long-term.
Taboos for Storing Tea
1. Avoid high temperatures. Under high temperatures, tea is prone to browning. As the temperature rises, amino acids, sugars, vitamins, and aromatic substances in the tea are decomposed to varying degrees, leading to a reduction in quality, aroma, and taste. Different types of tea have different temperature requirements, so it's best to consult the seller when purchasing tea.
2. Avoid moisture. Tea is a porous and hygroscopic plant material. In humid conditions, tea easily absorbs moisture from the air, causing it to become moldy and spoil, so it must be stored in dry conditions.
3. Avoid sunlight. Under intense sunlight, chlorophyll and alcohol compounds in the tea are oxidized and decomposed, affecting the quality of the tea and even rendering it undrinkable.
4. Avoid odors. All teas should not be mixed with items with strong odors. The special compounds in tea make it susceptible to absorbing surrounding odors. If stored with products that have a strong odor, the tea will absorb these odors and lose its original aroma, making it difficult to remove the absorbed odors.