Does tea have a shelf life
Tea does have a shelf life, and it's important to store it properly to maintain its quality and flavor. As you mentioned, the shelf life of different types of tea varies, with green and yellow tea having a shorter shelf life compared to black, white, and oolong tea.
When storing tea leaves, it's important to keep them dry, away from moisture, and in a dark place to avoid exposure to light. Tea leaves are also sensitive to odors, so it's best to store them in an airtight container and away from strong-smelling items such as spices, coffee, or cleaning products.
To extend the shelf life of tea, you can also store it in the freezer. However, it's important to note that tea leaves should be allowed to come to room temperature before brewing to prevent moisture buildup and condensation on the leaves.
Overall, proper storage of tea leaves is crucial to maintain their quality and flavor, and it's recommended to consume them within their respective shelf lives for the best taste.
Shelf life of tea:
Green tea
The shelf life of green tea is the shortest among the six major teas. Generally speaking, the shelf life at room temperature is about 1 year. Of course, if there is an independent tea storage refrigerator, it can be stored for about 18 months, but green tea should be fresh, so try to drink it within 3 months.
Black tea
Black tea is a fully fermented tea with a relatively long shelf life, which can be stored for more than 2 years. However, generally speaking, even if it is stored properly, the taste will change after more than 2 years, so try not to wait until 2 years later to drink.
Oolong tea
Oolong tea is semi-fermented tea, which can generally be stored for 24 months. And those that have been roasted (charcoal roasted), like Wuyi rock tea, can still be drunk after about 3 years of storage.
White tea
"1-year tea, 3-year medicine, 7-year treasure" white tea has the characteristics of getting better and better with age. The longer it is stored, the value and taste will not decrease but increase. Slag.
Dark tea
Dark tea has the characteristics of getting better and better with age, and can be stored for a long time in a clean, moisture-proof, and odor-free environment.
However, due to the post-fermentation process, it does not have the unlimited potential of raw tea and white tea. Generally speaking, the taste of loose tea has reached the best level after 3 to 5 years. If it is pressed tea, it will be almost 10 to 15 years. Zaicun does not have that much room for appreciation.
Puerh tea has the characteristics of getting better and better with age. Pu-erh tea is divided into cooked tea and raw tea. Generally speaking, the ripe tea is more than 15 years old.
Yellow tea
As the most low-key and most non-existent yellow tea, the production process is just one more dull yellow than green tea, and its shelf life has not been greatly improved because of the dull yellow. About 1 year, that's about it.
