Recently, a friend asked me if the tea in their home, which had been stored for more than three years, could still be drunk. This is a question that many friends have encountered, including myself, who often see some tea that has been stored for a long time in friends’ homes. Today, we will focus on the issue of the shelf life of tea.
Can tea still be drunk after being stored for three years?
Actually, the answer depends on the type of tea being stored, as different types of tea have different shelf lives due to different fermentation processes. Generally, the more fully fermented the tea, the longer its shelf life. For example, green tea is not fermented at all, so the fresher it is, the better it tastes. Green tea has a shelf life of about one year. Oolong tea, which is semi-fermented, can be stored for longer than green tea, about 1.5 years. However, for some teas that require roasting, drinking them after a year (i.e. 2 years old) can actually enhance their fragrance and make the taste more rich and full-bodied. Pu-erh tea, a semi-fermented tea, has an important process called “roasting.” The storage time depends on the degree of roasting! The longer the roasting, the longer the storage time, up to 24 months! The fully fermented black tea is generally best when drunk within 3 years.
Dark tea and Pu’erh Tea are also quite common, which belong to post-fermented tea. After they are made, they are usually pressed into cakes for post-fermentation! The finished tea should be stored for at least 3 years before drinking, and the shelf life is generally about 15 years! The most special one is Pu-erh Tea, which is the tea cakes we often see. Because the tea-making process is more special, the shelf life of raw tea is generally about 5 years, and the ripe tea can be more than 15 years, which is the same as aged wine – the longer it is stored, the more fragrant it becomes. Of course, the shelf life mentioned above is under the premise of proper storage conditions and no deterioration. If the storage environment is dark and damp, with obvious mold, of course it cannot be drunk.
The purpose of storing tea in the refrigerator is to prevent the tea from spoiling, maintain its taste and aroma! All types of tea can be stored at low temperatures, with a storage temperature generally ranging from 0 to 5°C, and not below or above this temperature range! However, for tea types such as old white tea, pu’er tea, and dark tea with a long shelf life, it is not necessary to store them in the refrigerator. They can be placed in a cool and well-ventilated place, with a temperature not exceeding 25°C! Tea with a general shelf life and a high aroma can be stored in the refrigerator, placed in the freshness compartment. However, it is important not to store food with a strong odor with them, as it is easy to get the flavors mixed up!
In summary, it depends on the tea itself! Finally, we would like to share a simple method to help you distinguish whether tea has gone bad: Firstly, look at the expiration date on the product packaging, which is the most direct way. If the expiration date on the packaging has passed or there is no packaging at all, you can use the “sniff, look, brew” method to identify whether the tea is still safe to drink. The “sniff” means to smell if there is any musty smell in the tea, if there is a stale taste or a noticeable musty smell, it is best not to drink it. The “look” means to see if the leaves are bright and crisp, if they are not, it is likely that they have expired. The “brew” means to take out a little tea and brew it with boiling water, and see if the tea soup is pure, if the tea soup has become turbid, it is not suitable for continued drinking.
For expired tea, don’t just throw it away. There are many other wonderful uses for it. For example, it can be used as fertilizer for plants, or wrapped in a piece of gauze and placed in the closet, which is a great dehumidifier. Putting it in the refrigerator can also remove the odor of the refrigerator.