In daily life, to know how to preserve tea, one must first understand what damages it. Only then can one know how to store it to avoid such damage. Different types of tea have different characteristics and are damaged in different ways and to varying degrees, so the methods and requirements for their storage also differ.
Many people do not know how to store Green Tea after opening it, which can lead to the tea going bad or losing its flavor. Under normal circumstances, green tea can be stored at room temperature for about a year; however, once opened, it should be transferred into an airtight container and used within two months if possible. Since green tea is prone to absorbing moisture, even unopened tea stored for too long will lose its aroma, so it should be brewed while fresh. Here are some key taboos to remember when storing green tea:
The Five Taboos of Storing Green Tea
1. Avoid Moisture
Firstly, one must be very careful to avoid moisture when storing green tea, as most tea enthusiasts know. Most teas have a strong tendency to absorb moisture and Humidity. A relative humidity of 60% is suitable for storage, but anything above 70% can cause the tea to develop mold and become acidic. During humid seasons like the southern return days or the Plum rains, make sure to keep the tea Bags tightly sealed to prevent moisture absorption.
2. Avoid High Temperatures
Secondly, it's important to avoid storing green tea in high temperatures, as this can affect its quality. Green teas are best preserved in low temperatures. High temperatures can break down amino acids, sugars, vitamins, and aromatic compounds, leading to a decline in quality, aroma, and taste.
3. Avoid Sunlight
Thirdly, avoid exposing green tea to direct sunlight, as this can easily degrade the quality of the tea. Sunlight promotes the oxidation of pigments and esters in green tea, breaking down chlorophyll into de-magnesium chlorophyll and spoiling the tea.
4. Avoid Oxygen
Fourthly, it's essential to prevent oxidation by avoiding exposure to oxygen, as this reduces the nutritional value of the tea. Chlorophyll, aldehydes, esters, and Vitamin C in green tea leaves readily combine with oxygen in the air. Oxidized green tea turns red or darkens, significantly reducing its nutritional value. Whenever you take tea out to brew, remember to reseal the container properly.
5. Avoid Strange Odors
Lastly, green tea should be stored separately to avoid absorbing strange odors, as this can affect its flavor. Green tea contains high molecular weight palmatase and terpenoid compounds, which are highly active and unstable, easily absorbing odd smells. If green tea is stored together with items that have a strong odor, it will absorb those odors and cannot be rid of them.