Does tea have a shelf life? This is the type of tea with the longest shelf life

Does tea have a shelf life? People who often drink loose-leaf tea should pay even more attention to this question. So does tea have a shelf life? The shelf life of sealed packaged tea and loose-leaf tea is different. Let's take a look at this question below.

Does tea have a shelf life?

As for the shelf life of tea, standards vary among different manufacturers. Among green tea producers, some do not write a shelf life on the packaging, some write a shelf life of 12 months, and more write a shelf life of 18 months; the shelf life of black tea is mostly 3 years; dark tea, including green brick tea, raw Pu'er tea, ripe Pu'er tea and others, has no shelf life written on it.

In fact, the quality of tea is easily affected by temperature, light and humidity. If stored improperly, tea will lose its original flavor, and the taste, aroma and liquor color will all deteriorate, and it may even spoil.

Usually, the shelf life of sealed packaged tea ranges from 12 months to 24 months. The shelf life of loose-leaf tea is even shorter, because the process of being placed out in bulk will absorb moisture and odors, which not only makes the tea lose its original flavor, but also makes it more likely to spoil. Take green tea, for example; generally it is still better when fresh. At room temperature, the shelf life is generally about one year.

To judge whether tea has expired, there are mainly the following aspects: see whether it has mold or has developed a stale taste; whether green tea has turned red, and whether the liquor color has turned brown or dark; whether the strength, astringency and freshness of the taste have declined; in addition, look at the shelf life on its packaging. Also, if it is loose-leaf tea, it is best not to brew and drink it after more than 18 months.

Shelf life of common tea types

1. Green tea. Green tea has the shortest shelf life. Generally speaking, at room temperature its shelf life is about 1 year. Of course, if you are a big spender and have a refrigerator dedicated to storing green tea, the shelf life can be extended to about 18 months.

2. Black tea. Black tea has a relatively long shelf life and can be kept for more than 2 years. However, generally speaking, even if it is stored relatively properly, after more than 2 years there will still be a phenomenon of the flavor changing, so try not to wait until after 2 years to drink it.

3. Oolong tea. Oolong tea, generally speaking, if placed in the refrigerator for cold storage, only lasts about 18 months. As for those that have been roasted, even if stored for 2 years they can still be drunk.

4. White tea. “1-year tea, 3-year medicine, 7-year treasure” is a characteristic of white tea. The longer it is stored, the more its value and taste rise rather than fall. Of course, this refers to the case of proper storage; otherwise, even the best tea becomes dregs.

5. Dark tea. Dark tea also has its own characteristics. In a clean, moisture-proof and odor-free environment, it can be stored for a long time. However, because it has undergone processing, it does not have the infinite potential of raw Pu'er and white tea. Generally speaking, for loose tea, after 3 to 5 years the taste has already reached its best level.

6. Yellow tea. As the most low-key and least noticeable yellow tea, its production process merely adds one step of menhuang, or sealed yellowing, compared with green tea, and its shelf life has not improved much because of the sealed yellowing. About 1 year, and that is roughly it.

7. Pu'er tea. As the most popular Pu'er tea in recent years, its characteristics have been hyped up fervently by collectors everywhere. For ripe tea, generally speaking, it lasts more than 15 years.