Green tea is usually very sensitive. It contains highly oxidizable ingredients. Therefore, care should be taken when storing green tea. If stored properly, green tea can be kept fresh for 24 months. The main point to judge the freshness of tea is that the taste of fresh tea has a clean and mellow taste. Smell-it should be fresh green; leaf color-should be light green; soup color-should be golden yellow. If the above factors change, we can say that tea is outdated. To get the maximum health benefits from green tea, one should be familiar with the following tips to keep the tea fresh.
Green tea preservation method:
(1) Store in the refrigerator
Store green tea in an airtight, opaque container in the refrigerator. If you plan to store your tea for longer, it is best to store it in the refrigerator. Tin should also be carefully sealed to prevent moisture and odor from other foods in the refrigerator. When you remove tea from the refrigerator to replenish the daily container, make sure to cool it to room temperature before opening it. Temperature differences can cause condensation, which in turn affects the quality of the tea. Wait at least half a day before opening.
(2) Store in a thermos
For homes that may not have a refrigerator, tea can be stored in a thermos. Fill the thermos with tea leaves and seal with wax. Tea stored in this way can stay fresh for months or even a year.
Use quicklime storage at room temperature. Store green tea in opaque containers and add quicklime around it. Quicklime keeps the tea dry. Be sure to replace the quicklime after a few months.
(3) Select the right tea
The quality of tea depends on how it is grown, harvested and processed. Tea grown naturally with the least amount of fertilizer is better. Proper logging and processing methods also play an important role. It is also recommended to buy early spring tea harvested between February and April, which tends to be of higher quality. It is difficult to ensure that the container is truly airtight after eating within two months, so it is recommended to drink tea within two months.
(4) Stored in a plastic bag
Store green tea in thick opaque plastic bags and squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing. Put it in another plastic bag, seal it, then put it in a container and seal it. These measures ensure that the chance of air and moisture entering the tea is minimized.
Five tips for green tea storage
(1) Humidity
This is the number one enemy of green tea. Chlorophyll, one of the ingredients of green tea, is easily oxidized, which causes the leaf color to turn brown and the taste of the tea. Properly made green tea is dried to a moisture content of 2% to 3%. With the constant change of moisture, it is almost impossible to maintain this state. Store in a closed container to minimize moisture exposure. Making sure the container is not opened often also helps.
(2) High temperature
High temperatures can accelerate certain chemical processes and cause the breakdown of certain ingredients, such as amino acids. On the other hand, lower temperatures will slow down the oxidation. Therefore, refrigeration is recommended.
(3) Oxygen
Most tea compounds react with oxygen. For example, vitamin C is highly oxidized. This causes the color of the tea to become red or brown. This will steal the original freshness of the tea. To prevent this, store in a closed container.
(4) Light
Both artificial and direct sunlight can adversely affect the quality of green tea. Chlorophyll is the main component of tea color and is very sensitive to light. When exposed to light, a series of chemical reactions occur and the color turns yellow-brown. This makes the tea go bad. To prevent this, store green tea in opaque containers.
(5) Odor
Green tea often absorbs the surrounding odor. Keep away from other smelly foods and items. It is said that green tea never really spoils. Stale tea can be used; it's just not as delicious as fresh and properly stored tea. To increase and improve the shelf life of green tea, the storage tips above can be used.
