The best way to store white tea for short-term: Prepare a kraft Paper bag, then put the white tea in the kraft Paper bag, squeeze out the air in the bag, seal it well, and store it in a dry and odorless place. For long-term storage of white tea, use an aluminum foil bag to pack the white tea and seal it, then put another layer of plastic bag on the outside, squeeze out the air in the bag, finally place it in a Cardboard box, and store it in a cool place.
The Method of Storing White Tea
Since loose white tea is too light and takes up a lot of space, pressing it into cakes is more convenient; secondly, pressing it into cakes can greatly reduce the loss of tea (crumbs) from long-term storage and occasional handling. Thirdly, compared with Pu'er tea, small to medium-leafed white tea is less resistant to oxidation (small to medium leaves have naturally less effective internal substances than large leaves and cannot withstand much handling), pressing it into white tea cakes reduces the amount of oxygen that comes into contact with the white tea in the space, allowing the white tea to be stored for longer periods. The tea must be dry.
Like other types of tea, when storing white tea, the tea must be as dry as possible, with the moisture content being as low as possible. The national standard for tea moisture content is 7%, but to store white tea for a long time, the moisture content of the tea should be controlled at 5% or lower for the most ideal state. If the moisture content of the tea is too high, storing it casually in a plastic bag, with direct sunlight, moisture will appear. During the southern rainy season, when the air humidity is high, if the white tea is not sealed properly, it is easy for the stored white tea to mold. Therefore, the lower the moisture content of the tea, the more conducive it is to the long-term storage of white tea. The place where white tea is stored must be dry and ventilated.
The place where white tea is stored must be dry and ventilated because environmental temperature is an important factor determining the quality transformation of white tea in later stages. The higher the temperature, the more intense and faster the transformation activity; when the environmental temperature is below 10°C, the transformation activity becomes slower; when the environmental temperature is below -6°C, the aging activity of any tea virtually stops. Generally, the best temperature for storing white tea is between 4°C and 25°C. However, due to different climates, there will be significant differences in how white tea is stored in the north and south. In southern regions, the internal components of the tea transform faster, while in the north, the process is slower. During the rainy season in the south, we should often open windows for ventilation and pay attention to preventing dampness and moisture; high temperature and high humidity environments can easily lead to mold growth.
Requirements for Daily Storage of White Tea
1. The storage of white tea is relatively environmentally friendly, requiring only room temperature storage, generally between 4°C and 25°C, maintaining a dry and ventilated state, no refrigeration is needed.
2. The environment where it is stored should be free of odors. Smoking should not be done in the space where the tea is stored, and care should also be taken to keep it away from the toilet and kitchen. If conditions permit, you can use tin foil to seal the white tea cake for storage, which can prevent dampness and light.
3. When storing white tea, do not frequently open the Packaging, as this makes it easy for air to enter, potentially accelerating the oxidation rate of the tea.
How Long Does New White Tea Need to Be Stored to Become Old White Tea?
Old white tea, also known as silver needle tea, refers to white tea that has been stored for many years, where “many years” means within a reasonable Shelf life, such as 10 to 20 years. During the long-term storage process, the internal components of the white tea slowly undergo changes, with the aroma gradually evaporating, the color of the infusion gradually turning red, the taste becoming mellow, and the nature of the tea gradually changing from cool to warm. Old white tea is cold in nature, similar to the effects of rhino horn, and the longer it is stored, the more mellow its taste becomes, and its medicinal and drinking values become even greater.
The longer white tea is stored, the higher its value. White tea stored for five to six years can be considered old white tea, and white tea stored for ten to twenty years is already quite rare. The longer white tea is stored, the higher its medicinal value, and old white tea also has commercial value. Therefore, old white tea has great collection value, and the quantity of old white tea available on the market is very limited. It can only be achieved by properly storing white tea and transforming it into highly valuable old white tea through time.