Green Tea, floral tea, yellow tea, and lightly fragrant Tieguanyin need to be refrigerated for storage. These teas have a low degree of fermentation or are not fermented at all, making their internal substances more active and susceptible to oxygen and environmental influences. Storing them in the fridge isolates them from external conditions and maintains their stability. However, when storing tea in the fridge, attention should be paid to moisture levels inside, and proper sealing is necessary.

Which Teas Need Refrigeration?

Teas that require refrigeration include: green tea, yellow tea, and some types of Oolong Tea.

Green teas (such as West Lake Longjing, Dongting Biluochun, Huangshan Maofeng, Taiping houkui, Anji White Tea, etc.) need refrigeration.

Yellow teas (like Pingyang Yellow Soup, Mengding Yellow Bud, etc.) should be sealed well and stored in the fridge.

Oolong teas come in several varieties:

① Lightly fermented oolong teas such as lightly fragrant Tieguanyin should be sealed well and refrigerated.

② Taiwanese oolong teas (Wenshan Baozhong, Qizhong Oolong, Oriental Beauty, Dongding Oolong, high mountain teas, etc.) do not need to be stored in the fridge but should be kept in a sealed, dark, cool environment free from odors.

③ Minbei rock teas (Dahongpao, Shuigujui, Iron Arhat, Rougui, Shuixian, etc.), Guangdong Fenghuang Dancong, and traditionally roasted Tieguanyin should be stored in a naturally cool, ventilated environment free from odors, while also avoiding light.

Which Teas Can Be Stored Directly

1. Pu'er Tea

Pu'er tea is a type of tea that undergoes long-term fermentation and aging, giving it a unique flavor and mouthfeel. Due to the lengthy aging process of Pu'er tea, it is typically pressed into cakes or bricks for preservation. This makes it easier to transport and store, and also allows the flavor and aroma of the Pu'er tea to become richer over time.

Pu'er tea is a famous aged tea in China and is also a type of tea suitable for long-term storage. The longer Pu'er tea ages, the better its flavor and quality become.

Therefore, many Pu'er tea enthusiasts buy older Pu'er teas and store them in appropriate environments. The key to storing Pu'er tea is to keep it dry and ventilated.

Generally, Pu'er tea should be stored in a well-ventilated, dry place, away from direct sunlight and damp conditions. If you want your Pu'er tea to age better, you can store it in a well-ventilated, temperature-appropriate location, opening the tea packaging bag periodically to allow the tea to breathe.

2. White Tea

White tea is a type of tea that can be stored for a long time, but the storage conditions are very important.

White tea should be stored in an environment with a relative humidity of 60% to 70%, with the most suitable storage temperature being 18-22 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is too high, it can cause white tea to spoil or lose its fragrance. If the temperature is too low, it may cause the tea to become too dry, losing its original flavor.

White tea should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from kitchens and bathrooms where it might be exposed to moisture. For home storage, you can choose porous containers like clay pots or porcelain jars. This allows the tea to breathe without direct sunlight, preventing mold growth.

White tea can be stored for a long time without significant changes in flavor or aroma. However, to ensure quality and taste, it's best to consume it within a suitable timeframe.

3. Black Tea

Black tea is the most widely consumed type of tea globally and is also a type of tea suitable for longer-term storage. Its notable examples include Qimen black tea, Zhengshan Xiaozhong, and Jinjunmei.

However, unlike Pu'er tea and white tea, the longer black tea is stored, the less its flavor and quality improve; instead, they tend to decline over time.

The key to storing black tea is to keep it dry and ventilated. Generally, black tea should be stored in a well-ventilated, dry place, away from direct sunlight and damp conditions.

To better preserve black tea, you can store it in a sealed tea tin and place it in a cool, dry area. Additionally, black tea can also be stored in the fridge, but care should be taken to acclimate the tea to room temperature upon removal to prevent moisture absorption.