If you love your loose leaf tea as much as we do here at Sacred Heart Tea Company, then you probably have quite a collection of teas. Proper storage of your teas will not only keep it fresh but likely extend its shelf life considerably. Let 's have a look at 3 tips for storing your luxury loose leaf teas so that you can enjoy them down to the last loose leaf!!
1. Keep tea away from moisture until you are ready to steep it
Tea leaves absorb moisture from the air. In order to prevent this from happening, follow these recommendations:
Don’t store your tea in the refrigerator or the freezer, as it will absorb moisture and odors.
Don't touch your loose leaf tea with moist hands. Always wash your hands and then dry thoroughly before opening your tea containers.
Make sure any utensils you use to spoon out your tea are dry. Just a little bit of moisture from a spoon can cause mold and ruin your tea.
Keeping your tea in airtight containers, such as our zip close pouches or tins, is the best way to keep your loose leaf tea dry and also limit its exposure to oxygen to prevent continued oxidation.
Should your tea have a strong pungent smell or have a fuzzy white growth, you have mold and it will need to be tossed immediately. If your tea leaves feel soft instead of dry, that is also a sign of mold and you should throw it out immediately. If you store properly, you should be able to keep this from happening!
2. Sealed Storage Containers
Sacred Heart Tea Company teas come in resealable packaging with a food-safe lining, it is safe, and you don’t have to invest in other containers if you don’t want to.
If you prefer, you can use tea tins (stainless, tin, or aluminum) that have an airtight lid as your first option when transferring tea from its original packaging. Just make sure the tin is air tight.
Avoid storing loose leaf tea in a plastic food container, as the tea leaves can absorb odors through the plastic.
Glass jars are ok, but not great. Avoid clear glass unless you are able to store your tea in a dark and cool location. If not, colored glass jars would be a better option.
It is helpful to store tea in bulk when possible, as the more tea is in a container the less air that tea is exposed to, which will keep it fresh for a longer period of time.
3. Stay away from direct sunlight and heat.
If you store your tea in stainless tins and they are in direct sunlight, the heat created inside the tin will cook the tea. Instead, store where it can be kept cool and dry but not below 50 degrees fahrenheit. Do not store your tea in direct sunlight in any containers as the sunlight degrades the tea quality and considerably shortens the life and freshness of loose leaf tea. Keeping your teas in a stable temperature will help protect them from damage. If you store tea in the kitchen, keep it away from high heat sources like the stove. A good place to store them is in a pantry or a cabinet that is away from heat sources.
No matter how you choose to store your loose leaf teas, we hope that our teas bring you great joy and remain fresh until the last leaf is brewed!
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