Storage is crucial in determining the shelf life of your tea herbs. So, how do you store tea herbs to increase their shelf life? Because when left laying on the shelf, tea herbs would lose their unique flavonoid and taste bland. So, if you don’t want your tea to go bad, you must know the proper tea-storing practices.
If you store your tea well right after purchase, you can enjoy drinking fresh tea for an extended period. It doesn’t matter what type of herbal wellness tea you have; they are all susceptible to degradation. If you have loose or powdery tea leaves, they are more susceptible to degrade faster compared to non-loose tea leaves. Below, we share some tips on how to store tea herbs properly.
Table of Contents
1.Store in an airtight vessel
The place you store herbal wellness tea plays a significant role in how long it stays fresh. For example, you must store it in an airtight vessel. An airtight vessel is essential because the tea herb can react with oxygen. But in an airtight vessel, no air is let in or out.
If you can’t get your hands on airtight seal storage, you can opt for oxygen-absorbing packets. These packets often contain salt and iron, which absorb oxygen when placed in the vessel. As such, insufficient oxygen gets to the tea herb to cause oxidation.
2.Keep away from other strong odors.
Another handy trick to have at the back of your mind while you store herbal wellness tea is to avoid storing it near other items with a strong odor. Tea tends to absorb its surrounding scent. If your tea absorbs the odor of the surrounding scent, it creates an unpleasant aroma when you brew it.
Also, you shouldn’t only be mindful of the surrounding smell and the vessel in which you keep the tea. As such, you should avoid plastic and wooden containers with a strong odor as storage vessels. Take note of the paint or coating on the storage vessel as well. If the coating has a strong odor, you should avoid using it as a vessel for your herbs.
3.Keep away from moisture
Moisture is the number one deteriorating agent for any dried food item, and tea is no exception. Herbal wellness tea is highly hygroscopic, meaning it can absorb moisture easily. It can even absorb moisture from the air; hence, the more reason you need to keep it in an airtight container.
If tea absorbs moisture, it could encourage bacteria growth, altering its taste and aroma when brewed. Moreover, when bacteria start growing on your tea herb, it becomes unhealthy to consume. For this reason, you want to try your best to avoid your tea herb getting steeped until you steep it for drinking.
4.Store in bulk
It’s also a good practice to store herbal wellness tea in bulk. Bulk storage is ideal because it leaves little to no room for air in the vessel. And when there is no air in the vessel, there will be little to no air moisture or microorganism that can deteriorate the herbs.
So, when you get an ideal vessel, pack the herbs tightly. Or, if the tea isn’t much, suck the air out of the vessel, particularly if you are using a plastic bag before sealing it.
5.Keep from heat
Heat is another major problem that affects tea herbs when in storage. Heat cause oxidation in the herb, which alters its color and flavor. Particularly, yellow and green tea quickly oxidized when exposed to heat.
Keep them in a cool, dry place to avoid heat destroying your herbs. For example, keeping tea herbs inside your cabinet is a great place to store them. Storing herbs in the refrigerator is only advisable if it is fresh tea and not dried herbs.
6.Store away from light
Another thing that can degrade herbal wellness tea fast is light. When tea herbs are exposed to light, they have a metallic flavor. Many tea enthusiasts believe this effect occurs as a result of photodegradation. As such, it’s advisable not to store the tea leaves under direct exposure to sunlight.
Overall, if you want your herbal wellness tea to have a fresh taste every time you prepare it, you should take caution when storing it. Use the right vessel, and keep the vessel in the right environment to avoid degradation.Â
