Knowledge
How to Properly Store Tea to Keep It Fresh for a Long Time
Proper tea storage is extremely important because poorly stored tea can quickly lose its quality or even accumulate impurities that alter its flavor and may harm your health. Therefore, it is crucial to learn how to store tea correctly so that it remains fresh, clean, and flavorful as much as possible.
Why Does Tea Go Bad If Not Stored Properly?
Even the best tea will spoil if not stored properly, turning dark, losing its aroma, and even developing mold. This mainly happens due to chemical changes inside the tea.
Exposure to high temperature, humidity, and sunlight accelerates these changes, spoiling the tea in a short time—especially fresh green tea picked in spring.
Main Factors That Cause Tea to Deteriorate:
Light
Temperature
Humidity
Oxygen
Microorganisms
Odor contamination
Tea Moisture and Storage Environment
Deterioration caused by microorganisms is influenced by temperature, humidity, and oxygen, while odor contamination is related to the storage environment. Thus, the key to proper tea storage is controlling temperature, humidity, light, and odors.
Recommended containers include metal tins, colored glass bottles, ceramic jars, and stoneware pots.
How to Store Different Types of Tea and Their Shelf Life
1. Green Tea Storage
Green tea is more prone to oxidation and loss of its natural aroma and color than other teas, especially those with strong fragrances.
Low temperatures slow oxidation, so refrigeration is ideal for green tea.
Place tea in a clean, dry metal tin, filling it as full as possible to limit air inside.
Seal tightly with a lid or zipper bag.
For best results, wrap the tin with a freshness bag and store in the refrigerator at 0-5°C.
Avoid storing near strongly scented foods.
This method also applies to yellow tea (Hoàng Trà) which is processed similarly to green tea.
Best containers: Aluminum bags, metal tins, refrigerated storage.
Shelf life: About 18 months.
2. Oolong Tea Storage
Oolong tea is semi-fermented, between black and green tea.
Lightly roasted high mountain oolong teas like Tieguanyin should be refrigerated to preserve freshness.
Heavily roasted oolongs such as roasted Tieguanyin, Da Hong Pao, or Dongfang Meiren can be stored at room temperature.
Tin boxes, iron cans, and ceramic jars are suitable.
Fill containers fully and seal tightly to reduce oxidation.
Aluminum bags are a good alternative if proper containers aren’t available.
Best containers: Tin boxes, iron cans, ceramic jars.
Shelf life: About 24 months.
3. Black Tea Storage
Black tea has lower moisture content and can be stored longer if kept away from light, heat, and odors.
Different types of black tea should not be mixed.
Store in sealed, dry containers, avoiding sunlight and high temperature.
Tin or iron containers are good; ceramic and Yixing (Zisha) jars are best for blocking light.
Best containers: Tin cans, iron cans, ceramic or Yixing jars.
Shelf life: Up to 36 months.
4. White Tea Storage
White tea is lightly fermented and retains higher moisture, requiring more careful storage.
Longer storage deepens the color and softens the flavor.
Wrap in aluminum paper inside sealed cartons.
Avoid frequent opening to prevent oxidation.
Best containers: Tin cans, ceramic jars, colored glass bottles, sealed cartons.
Shelf life: White tea’s value increases with age.
5. Pu-erh Tea Storage
Pu-erh is fermented tea and should be stored in a breathable, dry, odor-free environment.
Use kraft or cotton paper for wrapping; avoid plastic bags.
Store in Yixing clay jars or ceramic pots after removing outer packaging and seal with lids.
Compressed Pu-erh cakes or bricks can be displayed on racks in a ventilated area but kept away from odors.
Pu-erh absorbs odors easily, which can alter its original flavor.
Best containers: Kraft paper bags, Yixing jars, ceramic pots.
Shelf life: The longer, the better.
6. Herbal Tea Storage
Herbal teas should be kept in dry, cool, and shaded places to avoid damage from light, humidity, and heat.
Airtight containers best protect herbal teas from moisture damage.
If using original bags, squeeze out air and seal tightly.
Shelf life can be extended to about 2 years in refrigeration, but usually a sealed glass jar at room temperature suffices.
Best containers: Sealed cans, original packaging.
Shelf life: About 18 months.
Containers to Avoid for Tea Storage
Plastic bags: Can cause odors and degrade tea flavor under heat and light.
Clear glass containers: Light accelerates oxidation and diminishes tea quality.
Thick paper bags or freshness pouches: May absorb odors from other foods in the fridge.
Newspaper: Tea can absorb ink smells easily.
What to Do If Tea Leaves Get Moist?
Tea leaves are prone to moisture absorption from humid air.
If mold is present, discard the tea.
If not moldy, drying can restore the tea.
Avoid drying in direct sunlight because UV rays damage tea components.
Instead, dry tea gently on a cast iron pan, oven, or microwave at low temperature, stirring occasionally until fragrant, then seal in a dry container.
This method applies to green, oolong, and black teas.
For fermented teas like Pu-erh, store in a cool, ventilated place for natural drying if moisture is slight.
If white spots appear on moist Pu-erh, gently wipe with a clean cloth, then air it in a ventilated area for a few days to remove mold smell.
If you’re quality-conscious, slightly moist tea can also be repurposed as fertilizer, facial wash, or foot soak to avoid waste.