Proper Tea Storage to Preserve Quality and Flavor

As the summer heat intensifies, drinking tea becomes an essential method for people to cool down. However, improperly stored tea at home can become damp, moldy, and spoil, which is quite regrettable. Based on the characteristics of tea, there are many factors that can lead to spoilage, such as humidity, temperature, light exposure, and oxygen content. So, how should tea be stored at home?
1. Prevent high temperatures: High temperatures accelerate the breakdown of chlorophyll in tea, speeding up the browning process and affecting the freshness of the tea, thereby reducing its quality. Generally, for every 10°C increase in temperature, the rate of tea browning increases by 3-5 times, leading to undesirable changes in color, aroma, and taste. For instance, green tea loses its bright green color, black tea loses its fresh fragrance, and flower tea loses its scent. It is recommended to store tea at low or room temperature according to the different characteristics of the six major types of tea.

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2. Prevent direct sunlight: Ultraviolet rays under strong sunlight can oxidize pigments and lipid substances in tea, causing a sunburned taste. Therefore, tea storage must be light-proof, and multi-layer sealing methods such as aluminum bags and cans can be used.

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3. Prevent moisture: Tea has a strong hygroscopic nature. In the summer, high temperatures and humidity, especially in the southern regions with frequent plum rain weather, make the air feel damp. When storing tea, it is important to control the appropriate humidity to prevent mold. Generally, tea with a water content of less than 6% is more stable in quality; tea with more than 8% water content is prone to aging; and tea with a water content exceeding 12% is prone to mold and its quality will be greatly damaged.

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4. Prevent odors: The surface structure of tea is loose and porous, making it very susceptible to absorbing odors. Storage should be in odor-free spaces or sealed to isolate odors. Foods with strong smells should not be placed too close to tea to avoid flavor transfer. Additionally, avoid using packaging materials with odors for tea.

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5. Prevent oxidation: Polyphenols and amino acids in tea will gradually oxidize upon contact with air, leading to a decline in tea quality. Therefore, tea should minimize contact with air and can be protected by vacuum sealing or nitrogen filling.

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Storage tips for different types of tea:

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1. Green tea storage: The key to storing green tea is low temperature, light protection, moisture prevention, and odor prevention. Tea can be first placed in aluminum foil bags or odor-free cans (dry, sealed, refrigerated) and generally kept in a refrigerator around 5°C. Green tea, being unfermented, should not be stored for a long time and should be consumed promptly.

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2. Black tea storage: Dry and ventilated, sealed and light-protected, moisture prevention, and odor prevention. It is recommended to use porcelain cans or aluminum foil bags for sealed storage in dry and ventilated places. The aroma of black tea is prone to volatilization, and low-temperature storage will suppress its fragrance, reducing the freshness and concentration of the aroma.

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Storage of Flower Tea: It is essential to store flower tea in a well-ventilated, dry environment, away from light and moisture. Ceramic containers are the best for maintaining the stability of flower tea. If using transparent glass containers, they must be kept in a light-free area. Flower tea, with its rich floral aroma, is best stored in a dry container, away from light and high temperatures.

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Storage of White Tea: White tea should be stored at room temperature in a dry, sealed, light-free environment, free from odors, and well-ventilated, with a distance from walls and floors. For long-term storage, it is recommended to use aluminum foil bags sealed, plus an additional moisture-proof bag, placed away from walls and floors. Properly stored white tea increases in value over time, earning the saying ‘one year tea, three years medicine, seven years treasure’.

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Storage of Pu-erh Tea: The core requirements for storing Pu-erh tea are to keep it away from light, sealed to prevent moisture, dry, well-ventilated, and odor-free. If collecting tea for personal use, it is best to store it in a separate storage room. It is recommended to use ceramic or purple sand storage devices, and to store raw and ripe Pu-erh tea separately to avoid cross-contamination of flavors. Do not store them nakedly.

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Chinese tea, with its six major categories, varies in taste and characteristics due to different production processes. Each type of tea has its unique features and different shelf life and storage methods.

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