Proper Tea Storage Methods for Enthusiasts

Tea enthusiasts have their own habits when it comes to preserving tea. Some believe that storing tea in the refrigerator can better maintain its freshness, but not all teas are suitable for this. Simply put, the main types of tea that are suitable for refrigeration are green tea and lightly scented oolong tea. However, dark tea, Pu’er tea, traditional craft oolong tea, aged tea, and white tea may not be suitable for storage in the refrigerator. Below, we will look at more detailed and accurate storage methods for the six major types of tea.
I. Green Tea Storage Method: Refrigerate. If the storage time is short and it needs to be consumed immediately, green tea can be placed in the refrigerator’s cooling compartment with the temperature set to around 5°C. For unopened tea that you wish to store for over a year, it should be placed in the freezer. Optimal drinking time: 1-2 months after opening, and within one year for unopened tea. Precautions: 1.

---

You can use tea that has been dried with quicklime, package it in an aluminum-foil composite bag, and add an oxygen absorber, storing it in the refrigerator can maintain the quality of the tea for about two years. 2. If you want to store high-quality green tea at home, you can use the quicklime drying storage method. The specific operation is to choose a sealed container, such as a clay pot, porcelain jar, or odorless tin can, put quicklime blocks in a cloth bag, then wrap the tea with kraft paper and place it above the cloth bag, and finally place everything inside the container, sealing the container’s mouth and placing it in a cool and dry environment or in the refrigerator.

---

This way, you can better maintain the freshness and taste of green tea, allowing the tea to emit the best aroma and flavor.

---

---

II. Yellow Tea Storage Method: Best preserved in the refrigerator. Optimal drinking time: finish within one year. Precautions: Place a preservative in the tea bag and seal it, pack it in an aluminum foil bag, then place it in a container, and outside, put a clean plastic bag and tie it tightly, and directly store it in the refrigerator (the temperature is best controlled around 5°C). Avoid refrigerating with other foods to prevent the tea from absorbing odors.

---

III. White Tea Storage Method: Store at room temperature. Optimal drinking time: new white tea is typically consumed within 2-3 years. Aged white tea can be stored for a long time under professional storage conditions. Precautions: Keep away from light, keep dry, it is recommended to tie tightly in a transparent bag (sealed), then put on a layer of aluminum bag tied tightly (to avoid light), and finally pack in a cardboard box (to absorb moisture).

---

IV. Oolong Tea Storage Method: Store at room temperature, in tin cans with double lids made of tinplate. Optimal drinking time: best consumed within 3 years after opening. Precautions: 1. The chlorophyll in oolong tea will undergo a photocatalytic reaction once it comes into contact with light, so keeping it away from light is a crucial condition for preserving oolong tea.
2. In addition to preventing direct sunlight, moisture prevention is also absolutely necessary.

---

Oolong tea is classified as semi-fermented tea, so it doesn’t need to be stored with as much care as unfermented tea. On the contrary, oolong tea is relatively easy to store. When putting it into a can, special attention should be paid to filling the can with tea leaves. This can reduce the possibility of oxidation, and finally seal the can. This is done to maintain the excellent taste and quality of the tea leaves.

---

V. Storage method of black tea: Store in a sealed and dry container, such as a tin foil or tin can, or a purple clay pot. Store at room temperature (avoid high temperatures).
Best drinking time: It is best to drink within 3 years after opening. If stored properly at room temperature, in a dry, dark, sealed environment without strange odors, it can be consumed for a long time.
Precautions: The moisture content of dried black tea is not high, so it is easy to get damp or lose its fragrance.

---

To maintain its quality, we should try to avoid mixing different kinds of tea during storage. At the same time, keep it away from light, high temperatures, and items with strange odors. Only in this way can we keep black tea for a longer time.

VI. Storage method of dark tea/Puer tea: Store at room temperature, in a ventilated, dry environment without strange odors.
Best drinking time: Can be stored for a long time.

---

Precautions:
1. If the tea gets moldy and has white hairs due to excessive humidity and long time, take it out in time and place it in a ventilated and dry place. You can also dehumidify (just turn on the air conditioner), or dry it in the sun. The moldy hairs will naturally disappear after a few days.
2. If the situation of white hairs is serious, you can use a soft textile such as a brush or towel to remove the surface white hairs, and then heat it with a heating appliance such as a hair dryer for more than ten minutes.

---

3. If it is black mold, green mold, or gray mold, the tea is spoiled.

VII. Storage method of scented tea: Store in a cool, dry environment without strange odors.
Best drinking time: Within one year.
Precautions: Scented tea, a reprocessed green tea, is easy to get damp and deteriorate. Therefore, we must pay attention to storing scented tea and take good moisture prevention measures.

---

---

---