TEA STORAGE

The proper storage of finest tea is most vital, as tea which is improperly stored will go stale or rancid much faster. There are five things which teas are vulnerable to: light, air, heat, odors and moisture: 

• Light: Your teas should always be stored in a dark place. Never use glass or clear jars to store as sunlight or UV rays will degrade your tea very quickly. 

• Air: Tea leaves continue to oxidize over time with exposure to air and oxygen. Even when stored in an airtight vessel, some ambient air remains in between the tea leaves and in between the leaves and the top of the vessel. 

• Heat: Heat exposure will quickly ruin good teas. Avoid keeping your teas stored in sunlight or near heat sources such as stoves, ovens or other warm places. Heat can degrade the quality of the tea, removing flavor and aroma, and increasing the chance that your tea will take on moisture.

• Odors: Tea leaves will absorb scent of their surroundings. You should keep your teas stored safely away from areas with strong odors, such as spice cabinets, trash cans and refrigerators.

• Moisture: Tea is hygroscopic and will absorb moisture from the air. Tea leaves release their flavor when exposed to moisture. Therefore, keep tea leaves away from humid areas like boiling water or inside a refrigerator. An airtight storage container is really all you need to block out moisture. 

Golden Rules:

• Teas that are less oxidized (greens, yellows and whites) degrade more quickly than teas that are more oxidized (oolongs and blacks). So try to consume delicate teas quickly after opening its pack. 

• The more broken the leaves are, in other words, the higher the surface area in contact with air, the faster the leaves will deteriorate.

• Tea is best when stored in bulk. A near empty airtight vessel with a tiny bit of tea in the bottom will deteriorate faster than an airtight vessel completely full of tea. 

So go ahead to sip a cup of your favorite tea while keeping these in mind! Enjoy!