The shelf life of Pre-Ming Longjing tea is 12 months. Pre-Ming Longjing Tea is harvested early, and it is rich in quality with a high degree of freshness and briskness, suitable for brewing and drinking as soon as possible. It is not recommended for long-term storage. Under normal circumstances, Pre-Ming Longjing tea can be stored for 12 months. When storing, it should be placed in a cool place and attention should be paid to keeping it dry, preventing dampness, avoiding sunlight, avoiding exposure to light, and preventing odors.
How to store Pre-Ming Longjing tea
1. Lime storage method
To store Longjing tea using lime, first lay out block lime at the bottom of a lime jar, then wrap it in paper. Store the tea in 0.5 kg packages in the jar, cover it, and seal it for storage. The aroma of the Longjing tea will become increasingly fresh and fragrant.
2. Metal canister storage method
When storing Longjing tea in a metal canister, place some tea wood in the canister and shake it while covering it or roast it with fire to remove any odors. Then put the Longjing tea leaves into the metal canister and seal the lid with tape. Place the metal canister in a cool spot.
3. Plastic bag and aluminum foil bag storage method
Put the tea directly into a plastic bag or an aluminum foil bag, try to squeeze out the air inside the bag, and seal it well. Place another bag over it in reverse, and store the tea in a cool and dry place.
Precautions for storing West Lake Longjing tea
1. The moisture content of West Lake Longjing should be as low as possible, not exceeding 6%. It is required that producers of West Lake Longjing strictly control the moisture content of the finished tea.
2. The relative humidity of the storage environment should be low, ideally controlled below 60%.
3. Strictly avoid contact with odors. In terms of absorbing odors, tea contains terpenoid compounds and high molecular citric acid, which can quickly absorb the smell of other substances and alter or mask the original aroma of the tea. If the tea is stored together with camphor balls, Spices, medicines, etc., or if the tea is placed in new wooden containers or newly painted containers with strong smells, it will absorb the odor of these items within a few hours. Drinking such tea may cause discomfort at best, and at worst, it cannot be consumed.
4. Avoid direct sunlight. Light can affect the quality of tea, especially if the tea is exposed to strong light for too long, it can easily destroy chlorophyll, causing the tea to turn yellow and dull in color and deteriorate in quality. If exposed to sunlight, it can also develop a sun-dried taste, rendering it undrinkable.
5. Prevent tea from being crushed. Avoid crushing and breaking the tea, which damages its beautiful appearance.
6. Store in batches. For household consumption, small-sized packaged teas are usually purchased and stored in batches to minimize the impact on the quality of the tea during regular consumption due to environmental conditions.