How To Store Herbal Tea
Herbal teas have grown in popularity in recent years due to their health benefits, delicious flavours, and versatility. But, how you store your tea can greatly impact its quality and longevity.
In this post, we will explore the best ways to store herbal and fruit tea to ensure that it stays fresh and flavourful.
- Keep it cool and dry
The first and most important rule of storing herbal tea is to keep it cool and dry. Heat, humidity, and moisture can all affect the flavor and quality of your tea. Exposure to air and light can also cause the herbs to lose their potency and aroma. Therefore, it's essential to store your tea in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and moisture. A pantry or cupboard is an excellent option for storage, as long as it's not located near a stove or sink.
- Use the right container
The container you use to store your herbal tea can also make a significant difference in preserving its freshness and flavour.
Avoid using plastic or metal containers, as they can transfer unwanted flavours and chemicals to your tea. Instead, use glass or ceramic containers with airtight lids that can keep out air and moisture.
- Label and date your tea
Most tea brand will have the expiry date printed on the inner or outer packing. However, if you transfer your herbal tea from the its original packaging to an airtight container as we mentioned earlier, labelling and dating your tea can help you keep track of its freshness and expiration date.
Write the name of the tea, expiry date and the recommended brewing time and temperature on the label. This will help you remember which tea to use first and ensure that you're brewing it at the right temperature and time for the best taste and health benefits.
- Keep tea away from strong odours
Tea can easily absorb strong odours from its surroundings, which can affect its taste and aroma. Keep your tea in a separate container away from other food items and strong-smelling products. This will help prevent your tea from absorbing unwanted odours and flavours.
- Don't store tea in the fridge
While it's important to keep herbal tea cool, refrigeration is not recommended. The humidity and moisture in the fridge can cause the tea to absorb unwanted odours, and the cold temperature can affect the taste and aroma of the herbs. Furthermore, this can have a big effect on the shelf life of the product, so it always recommended to follow the manufacturer's guidelines, as stated on the packaging.
Conclusion
Storing herbal and fruit tea properly is essential for preserving its freshness and flavour. To ensure the best results, store your tea in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry or cabinet. Use airtight containers to keep air and moisture out, and avoid storing loose leaf tea near strong-smelling foods.
By following these tips, your tea will remain fresh and delicious for months to come and each cup just as enjoyable as the first.