There are many tea leaves bought back, so how to store them is a problem. Generally speaking, household tea storage mainly uses methods such as tea barrels, tea cans, and packaging bags. The effect of storing tea varies depending on the material used. Today, let’s talk about what is the most suitable container for storing tea at home.
1. Common ways of storing tea at home
Some tea enthusiasts are accustomed to purchasing tea leaves for a year at once, and then slowly drinking them at home. In doing so, the benefit is to ensure that the quality of the tea remains the same, all from the same batch, and the same taste can always be enjoyed. But there are also some drawbacks. If stored improperly, tea can easily spoil and taste. So the household tea storage utensils and methods are very important, specifically including the following common methods.
Firstly, tea barrels and cans made of various materials. As for green tea storage, most people would choose iron tea barrels, which are simple, convenient, affordable, and not afraid of compression. At the same time, the iron tea barrel also has the characteristic of sealing and avoiding light, which can effectively prevent direct sunlight, avoid chlorophyll oxidation, and slow down the speed of tea discoloration.
Glass tea jars are not suitable for storing tea because glass is transparent and green tea will quickly oxidize after exposure to light, causing the tea to quickly change color. Purple sand tea jars are also not suitable for long-term storage of green tea because they have good breathability and are prone to adsorbing moisture in the air, causing the tea to become damp and potentially causing mold and spoilage.
In addition, some people use wooden tea barrels or bamboo tea barrels to store tea leaves. But this type of vessel is also not suitable for storing tea, because wood itself has a certain odor, and tea has strong adsorption. Long term storage can affect the aroma and taste of tea.
In fact, using tin cans for storing tea at home is the best, as it has the best performance in both light avoidance and sealing moisture resistance among metal materials. However, tin based tea cans are expensive and many people are reluctant to buy them. So, for daily tea storage in households, iron tea cans are mainly used.
Secondly, various bags represented by tea specific bags. When many people buy tea, tea merchants do not choose to use tea barrels to save costs. Instead, they directly use aluminum foil bags or tea specific bags for packaging, and some even use plastic bags directly. This is also a common way for families to purchase tea. If there is no tea barrel at home, it cannot be packaged, and many people directly use this type of tea bag for storage.
The advantage is that it occupies a small area, is simple, convenient, and cost-effective, without the need for additional costs. But the drawbacks of storing tea in tea bags are equally obvious. If the seal is not properly sealed, it is easy to absorb odors and moisture, causing the tea to change color and taste. If stacked together with other things, it is easy to be squeezed and cause the tea to break.
Green tea needs to be stored at low temperatures, and if left at room temperature, it will change color within half a month. Using convenient bags to store tea can significantly accelerate the speed of tea spoilage.
So fundamentally, tea convenience bags or specialized bags are not suitable for long-term storage of tea and can only be used for a short period of time.
3. Several issues to pay attention to when storing tea at home
Firstly, it is necessary to do a good job in sealing management. No matter what kind of tea it is, it has strong adsorption ability and is easy to absorb odors or humid air. Over time, it will change color and taste. So the sealing of tea storage utensils must be good. If using a tea barrel, it is best to use a tea bag that can be sealed inside. If stored in the refrigerator for super storage, it is best to wrap and seal it with food grade cling bags outside.
Secondly, avoid light and high temperatures. Tea storage must avoid light and high temperatures, especially for non fermented green tea. Because under strong light and high temperature conditions, tea leaves will quickly oxidize. If they come into contact with moisture, they will quickly turn black and spoil, and may even become moldy. Once mold occurs, it is not advisable to continue drinking, whether it is within the shelf life or not.
Again, moisture-proof and odor proof. Tea has strong adsorption properties, and if stored in a well ventilated place without proper sealing, there will generally be no problems. However, if stored in the kitchen or cabinet without proper sealing, it will absorb the smell of oil fumes and aging, leading to the loss of the aroma and taste of tea. If there is a large amount of moisture in the air, tea leaves will become soft after washing hands, which will increase microbial activity and lead to uncontrollable situations in the tea leaves. So storing tea at home must be moisture-proof and prevent odors, even if it is stored in the refrigerator, it must be sealed properly.
Post time: Jan-09-2024