A nice cup of tea can be the perfect thing after a long day at work, or a good way to start the day. In either case, tea is best when it is fresh. There is no substitute for purchasing tea leaves and preparing them when you are ready. However, as time goes by, the tea leaves in your cupboard may begin to lose their flavor or take on peculiar flavors. Properly storing tea leaves can help you to guarantee every cup of tea is as fresh as the first.
Step 1
Find an airtight container for storing the tea leaves. There are many considerations when making this decision. See-through containers will subject the tea leaves to light. Light causes the leaves to discolor, which in turn, causes the loss of flavor in the tea leaves. Bags, cans and jars are great containers you can use. They should be airtight as much as possible. Air causes tea leaves to wilt. A good option is to place the tea leaves into a sealable plastic sandwich bag, and then place the plastic bag into the container. If you have several different types of teas in the same container, separate them into separate sealable baggies. Tea leaves are very porous and will pick up odors and flavors from other tea leaves, herbs or spices.
Step 2
Place the tea leaves into the container of choice.
Step 3
Determine a place to store the container. Do not store the container in the refrigerator. Although keeping the leaves cool aids in their longevity, moisture will be generated from inside a refrigerator. Moisture will cause the tea leaves to mold. Too much heat will cause the leaves to wilt. Choose a cool, dry, dark place to store your tea leaves.
Tips and Warnings
- To insure freshness, separate just enough tea into a plastic bag for one serving. Now, when you make tea you are not subjecting the other tea leaves to the air. This keeps unused tea leaves fresh for months to come.
Things You'll Need
- Airtight container
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