Recently, there has been continuous rainy weather, leading to a phenomenon of high humidity in the southern regions of China, with temperatures warming up and humidity rising.

In such humid conditions, items and food can easily become damp and moldy. Therefore, appropriate measures should be taken to prevent dampness.

Tea enthusiasts are most concerned about their tea. How can they deal with the humid weather and prevent their tea from becoming damp? Here are some methods for reference:

01How to Identify Damp Tea?

Damp tea is a problem caused by excessive moisture. When tea comes into contact with humid air and absorbs too much moisture, it becomes damp. It's easy to understand why tea storage requirements are more stringent during humid seasons in the south.

Observe the appearance and feel with your hands. If the tea is damp and moldy, white mold spots may be visible on its surface; such tea should not be consumed. If you cannot tell by observation, use your hands to test. If the tea stems snap and make a clear sound, and the leaves crumble easily, this indicates an ideal moisture content. If there is no sound when snapping and the leaves do not crumble cleanly or stick together, it suggests a higher moisture content. If the tea does not snap at all and retains its shape, it indicates severe dampness.

Smell the aroma, observe the tea liquor, and taste the flavor. Normally dried tea has a noticeable and fragrant aroma, with a bright and transparent infusion. Damp tea has a dull smell that becomes more apparent upon brewing; severely damp tea may even have a musty Odor due to mold.

02 Humid Weather: Master the Correct Posture for Storing Tea

① Large Environment

The environment for storing tea needs to be clean, odor-free, shielded from light, and relatively independent. High humidity is a significant issue in tea storage, so we need to ensure that the storage space maintains the right level of humidity.

Airtight boxes or aluminum foil bags with good moisture-proof properties and no odor are common household tools for storing tea. They can create a “microenvironment” for different types of tea, preventing them from mixing flavors.

If you have a large quantity of tea, it's best to designate a specific storage area. During humid weather, walls and floors can become waterlogged, so tea should be stored off the ground on shelves, away from walls and windows.

Place an appropriate amount of bamboo charcoal, wood charcoal, or quicklime in the storage area. However, bamboo charcoal and wood charcoal can absorb moisture and then release it again, so use them with caution.

② Small Packages

If the tea is in its original packaging box, it is recommended to store the whole sealed box as is.

If it's individual tea cakes or bricks, keep their original wrapping (usually cotton paper), then seal them in aluminum foil bags. Store similar teas together in a closed box.

③ Loose Tea for Personal Consumption

It is not recommended to store tea in a clay pot. In humid weather, the good breathability of a clay pot means that moisture can easily penetrate and dampen the tea.

Storing tea in a kraft paper bag or aluminum foil bag is the simplest and most economical option. Use thick, high-density, odorless food-grade resealable bags. After placing the tea inside, squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing and then place it in another plastic bag or a cardboard box for storage.

03 Should You Ventilate During Humid Weather?

Opening windows for ventilation during humid weather is risky, as it can quickly balance the humidity between indoors and outdoors, increasing indoor humidity.

The suitable humidity range for storing tea is 40%-70%. To ensure that the air humidity meets storage requirements, use a hygrometer to measure the humidity of the storage environment. When the air is too humid, it's best to use a dehumidifier.

If you must ventilate, wait until after the humid weather, depending on the weather conditions, when there is a northeast wind, fresh air, and humidity below 60%, to open the tea for ventilation, allowing it to breathe the clean surrounding air freely.

However, when ventilating, consider the following conditions: do not open for ventilation when the air is heavily polluted, the space has strong odors, the weather is hot and muggy, it is raining, foggy, overcast, windy, or when the humidity exceeds 70%.

04 Can Damp Tea Be Salvaged?

If the dampness is minor, it can be handled by proper airing or drying. For severe dampness, it's best to discard the tea.

Once tea becomes damp, its quality will be compromised to some extent.