Black Tea does not have a long shelf life.

Pu'er Tea can be stored long-term and becomes more fragrant with age. However, black tea is different from Pu'er tea. Black tea has a definite shelf life, and if stored for too long, the aroma will dissipate, which in turn affects the taste of the tea infusion. In other words, black tea generally does not have any value for collection.

How long is the shelf life of black tea? This depends on the packaging of the black tea. Generally, canned black tea has a shelf life of 2 years, sealed bagged black tea lasts 1 to 2 years, and loose-leaf black tea has a shelf life of 18 months. However, if stored properly, the duration can be extended. Regardless, to enjoy the purest flavor of black tea, it is recommended to consume it within its shelf life.

How should tea be stored?

In any case, opened tea should be stored promptly. Common methods used at home include can storage and bag storage. Can storage is widely adopted by many families mainly due to its convenience. However, many people often overlook one detail – tea easily absorbs odors. If the can itself has an odor, it will affect the quality of the tea. Therefore, in the future, you could place a small amount of tea into the can to absorb any odors inside.

Bag storage is relatively more complicated, but its advantage lies in being economical and practical. There are certain requirements for the packaging bags; they must be food-grade and have high density and strength.

Black tea is different from teas like Pu'er in that it rarely has any value for collection and should not be stored for too long. Therefore, if you have high-quality black tea at home, besides storing it properly, it is also recommended to try to consume it within its shelf life.