Tea storage is the process of ensuring that tea maintains its original quality after basic packaging. Tea enthusiasts come from all over, and there are significant differences in how tea is stored between the north and south. Here's how to store tea in both regions.

Tea Storage: How to Correctly Store Tea

1. For Daily Consumption:

The goal is to ensure the tea remains fresh while being easily accessible. We recommend using small packages for easy access. The more a package is opened, the greater the risk of moisture damage. Thicker food-grade aluminum bags provide better protection, keeping the tea dry and away from light. After taking out the tea, remember to seal the bag with a sealing strip. This method is simple and convenient, allowing you to enjoy the tea's pure flavor during its optimal tasting period. Alternatively, a home temperature and humidity-controlled cabinet is also a good option.

2. Long-Term Storage:

If you plan on storing tea for a long time, proper sealing is crucial. As tea is something consumed directly, the first layer of packaging must be carefully selected. We use food-grade aluminum bags, which are widely used by tea companies and have been proven effective. They offer good value for money and stability, and can be sealed with a tie or heat sealer to keep out light and moisture. A second layer of moisture-proof plastic bag adds extra protection against dampness. Good-quality dry White Tea, especially loose leaves, can be fragile, so a cardboard box provides an outer protective layer, keeping the tea from being crushed. Finally, seal the box with tape, and the inner packaging is complete. For added security, we typically add multiple layers of cling film, aluminum bags, plastic bags, and an outer box to our standard storage packaging.

Once the tea is properly packaged, the next step is controlling the environment.

Select a dry, dark, and Odor-free space for storage, such as a bookshelf in your study, a spare guest room, or a dedicated tea storage room.

The southern regions tend to be humid and hot, leading to faster transformation compared to the drier and colder northern regions. Higher temperatures and humidity levels accelerate enzymatic reactions, resulting in quicker transformation.

We recommend storing at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, with the tea containers elevated off the ground and away from walls. Humidity should ideally be controlled at around 50%.

In the south, where long-term storage is desired, consider using a dehumidifier. For those who can afford it, a smart temperature and humidity-controlled system is even more convenient.

Finally, it's very important not to frequently open the storage container every few days or weeks to check on the tea. Doing so can inadvertently spoil the tea.

For tea, the best thing is often to leave it alone. Disturbing it less is the best way to let it mature. While it's inevitable to check on it, try to do so less frequently, perhaps once a year, adding a sense of ceremony and witnessing its transformation.

Key Points for Storing Tea:

Tea is highly susceptible to moisture and absorbing odors, so special attention should be paid to its packaging and storage. Packaging should not only be aesthetically pleasing, convenient, and hygienic but also protect the product from moisture and odors, ensuring the tea's quality. The main factors causing tea to deteriorate include light, temperature, moisture content, atmospheric humidity, oxygen, microorganisms, and odor contamination. Microbial deterioration is influenced by temperature, moisture, and oxygen, while odor contamination is related to the storage environment. To prevent tea from deteriorating, control light, temperature, moisture, and oxygen. Use packaging materials that block light, such as metal cans or aluminum foil laminated bags. Oxygen can be removed through vacuum or nitrogen packaging, or by using oxygen absorbers. Tea can be stored at room temperature or low temperatures. Regardless of the storage method, the relative humidity of the storage space should be kept below 50%, and the moisture content of the tea should be maintained at less than 5% during storage.