Tea not stored properly can cause problems if consumed, yet discarding it seems like a waste. This is a distressing issue for many tea lovers. How to store tea properly so that we don't have to watch it go to waste? Today, I'll share some storage tips for various types of tea, hoping they will be helpful to you.

Green Tea

Of all teas, green tea is best stored in the refrigerator, especially Longjing tea, which has a high aroma. If storing for a short time and needing to drink it regularly, place green tea in the refrigerator and set the temperature around 5°C (41°F); if unopened, and you want to keep it for over a year, store it in the freezer. Alternatively, after absorbing moisture with quicklime, package the tea in an aluminum composite bag, including an oxygen absorber, seal it, and place it in the refrigerator. The tea quality will remain largely unchanged for about two years. Additionally, you can use quicklime to absorb moisture for storing premium green tea at home. Choose a sealed container (like a pottery jar, ceramic jar, or odorless tin), put quicklime in a cloth bag inside the container, wrap the tea in kraft paper and place it on top of the cloth bag, seal the container, and store it in a cool, dry place.

Oolong Tea

The chlorophyll in oolong tea reacts to light through photocatalysis, so avoiding light exposure is one of the most important conditions for storing oolong tea. In addition to avoiding light, preventing moisture is also essential. Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea, so it doesn't need to be stored as carefully as non-fermented teas. It's relatively easy to store. If you have a tin can to store the tea, that would be ideal. If not, you can use a tin can, ceramic can, or double-lid tin tea can. When packing, ensure the tea fills the container to reduce oxidation. Seal the lid tightly afterward.

Black Tea

Black tea has a low moisture content and is prone to dampness or loss of aroma. During storage, try to avoid mixing different types of tea. Generally, store it in a sealed, dry container away from light and heat. Storing black tea in tin foil or a tin can is good. If using a glass can, ensure it is not exposed to sunlight. In summary, keeping it away from light, heat, and strong odors will help preserve it for a longer period. Before storing the black tea, pack it in a plastic bag and remove as much air as possible to better retain its aroma.

Yellow Tea

To store yellow tea, add a preservative to the tea bag and seal it, then place it in a container. Put it in another clean plastic bag and tie it tightly before storing it directly in the refrigerator (ideally at around 5°C). Avoid refrigerating it with other foods to prevent the tea from absorbing odors.

White Tea

There are several ways to store white tea: 1. Store white tea leaves in a tea can to prevent crushing. Tin cans or iron tubes are better, and the seal must be tight. 2. Place an appropriate amount of charcoal in a small cloth bag and put it at the bottom of the tea can. Then arrange the packaged tea in layers in the can. Seal the can's mouth, and replace the charcoal monthly. 3. Put quicklime in a clean small cloth bag, but make sure to package the white tea separately in the tea can to avoid the quicklime's odor affecting the tea. Quicklime is a highly effective desiccant, helping maintain the fresh aroma of white tea. 4. Store white tea with a moisture content below 6% in a tea can and seal the can's mouth with tape. Store it in the refrigerator, ideally at around 5°C. For most households, room temperature storage and refrigerated storage are recommended.

Dark Tea

Dark tea requires ventilation, dryness, and no odors during storage. Maintaining ventilation and dryness is the most important factor when storing dark tea. It's best to use packaging materials such as kraft paper or leather paper (avoid using plastic bags) to seal and store it. You can place a certain amount of charcoal around it to absorb moisture and odors. Dark tea is a deeply fermented (fully fermented) tea, so a certain humidity is necessary to accelerate aging. If it becomes moldy due to excessive humidity and grows white fuzz, take it out and place it in a well-ventilated area, or use a dehumidifier (an air conditioner will do), or sun-dry it. After a few days, the mold will naturally disappear. If the white fuzz is severe, use a brush, towel, or similar soft textile to remove the surface layer, and then heat it with a hairdryer for about ten minutes. However, if there is black, green, or gray mold, the tea is bad.

Pu'er

If stored properly, Pu'er tea becomes more fragrant over time. A commonly used method is the “Clay Pot Aging Method”: take a wide-mouth clay pot and mix old and new tea in it for aging.

Tea Cake

For tea cakes that will be consumed soon, break them into loose tea and store them in a clay pot (do not use airtight metal pots). After half a month, the tea can be used. This is because typical tea cakes often have a looser outer layer and a stronger inner part. After this “tea gas harmonization method,” the inner and outer parts complement each other, resulting in higher-quality tea.

Scented Tea

Scented tea is a reprocessed green tea with high moisture content and is prone to spoilage. When storing, pay attention to preventing moisture and store it in a cool, dry, odorless environment.

Reminder:

Note that the containers used for storing tea should be dry, clean, and odorless. Containers holding tea should be kept in a dry, ventilated area. Do not store them in damp, hot, unclean, or sunny places. Do not store them near items with strong odors, such as camphor, medicines, cosmetics, cigarettes, cleaning products, etc. Also, different types and grades of tea should not be stored together.

When taking tea out of the freezer, let the tea in the container return to room temperature first, otherwise, the tea can condense moisture from the air, increasing its moisture content and accelerating the deterioration of the remaining tea. You can divide the purchased tea into smaller packages and store them in the refrigerator. Each time you drink tea, only take out a small package, which will not significantly affect the quality of the rest of the tea.