Tea is the most common drink in life, especially in southern cities, and it is a must-have for every household. When a guest comes to the door, the first thing to do is to boil water and brew a pot of good tea. Like most foods, seemingly dry tea also has a shelf life.
Green tea, yellow tea: shelf life is about 12-18 months (need to be refrigerated).
Oolong tea: shelf life is about 2-3 years (longer for strong aroma).
Black tea: shelf life is about 2-3 years.
Black tea, white tea, Pu'er tea: can be aged for a long time (pay attention to environmental control).
Many people see that tea is expired, and they usually throw it away. However, a friend who sells tea told me that tea cannot only look at the shelf life. Some tea is not well preserved, and it has gone bad even if it has not expired. But some tea, even if it expires, has not deteriorated and can be drunk.
1. The harm of spoiled tea
Once the tea is spoiled, the taste and flavor will be greatly reduced, and there will be many harms.
1. Risk of cancer
Moldy tea leaves may contain aflatoxin, a strong carcinogen. Long-term intake can easily damage the liver and significantly increase the risk of liver cancer.
2. Acute poisoning
Bacteria and mold in moldy tea can cause diarrhea and vomiting, and in severe cases, cause food poisoning.
3. Nutritional loss
Vitamins and antioxidants are lost in large quantities, and the health value is basically lost.
4. Organ damage
The harmful substances produced by deterioration will increase the metabolic burden of the liver and kidneys and damage the intestinal mucosa.
5. Odor pollution
Moldy tea leaves will release unpleasant odors and contaminate other foods and containers.
2. Expired tea leaves ≠ deterioration
Tea leaves cannot be judged by the shelf life alone. Even if the shelf life has passed, don't rush to throw it away. Here are a few ways to tell whether the tea leaves are damaged!
1. Check the dryness and humidity
We can judge the dryness and humidity of the tea leaves by squeezing them. If the tea leaves are fragile, it means that they are still dry and well preserved.
If the tea leaves are soft and difficult to crush, it means that they have absorbed moisture. Because of the humidity, it is likely to have deteriorated.
2. Observe the surface
Because tea absorbs moisture, it is easy to get moldy. After the tea is moldy, mold will appear on the surface, showing visible stains.
It will form a sharp contrast with fresh and dry tea, and you can see the clues by observing it with the naked eye.
3. Identify the smell
For tea that has not deteriorated, you can smell the refreshing tea fragrance with your nose. If the tea is deteriorated, you may smell the odor of mold, which can be easily judged.
3. Tea preservation skills
1. Dry environment:
Tea is easy to absorb moisture and odor, so it should be stored in a dry environment. Use plastic bags to seal and place in tea barrels to effectively isolate the air and extend the shelf life of tea.
If it is green tea, it is recommended to put it in the freezer of the refrigerator. Even if it is stored for two or three years, it will still look like new when you take it out, and it can be drunk after the expiration date.
2. Ceramic jar sealing:
In the early days, many people liked to use ceramic jars to store tea. Because ceramic jars have good sealing performance, they can be used to store tea. But make sure that the jar is tightly sealed to prevent the tea from getting damp and deteriorating.
3. Stay away from items with strong odors:
Because tea has a strong ability to absorb odors, do not put it together with items with strong odors, such as cosmetics, condiments, seafood, etc.
4. Reuse of expired tea
Don't rush to throw away expired and deteriorated tea, you can still play its adsorption characteristics. For example, make it into a "deodorizing bag".
Prepare a disposable mask, then cut it open and put some expired tea leaves in it. Then tie it tightly with a rubber band to form an odor removal artifact. It can be placed in wardrobes, drawers, refrigerators and other places. It can absorb moisture and odors to maintain the effect of purifying the air.
When the tea leaves are damp, you can take them out and put them in the sun. After drying, they can continue to play the role of adsorption and be used repeatedly to maximize benefits.