In recent years, the craze for old tea has caused many people to take pride in owning and drinking old tea. They believe that the more aging the tea, the more fragrant it is. So can these expired teas still be drunk? Does tea have a shelf life?
Demystifying the shelf life on tea cans：
When we say "expired", we generally refer to the calculation using the production date and shelf life printed on the package.
Generally, the shelf life printed on green tea and yellow tea packaging is generally 18 months, that is, one and a half years; on the packaging of black tea and oolong tea, the shelf life printed on it is 2 or 3 years; black tea, Pu'er tea, white tea, dried tangerine pu'er tea Basically, the packaging is printed with words like "shelf life: long-term storage under proper conditions".
Does the expiration date mean that the tea has deteriorated?
It can only be said that it is not absolute. For the best tasting effect, it is best to drink it within the shelf life. But the key to the quality of tea depends on preservation. Poorly preserved tea may deteriorate even after the expiry date. Well preserved tea can still be drunk even after it expires. In other words, expired and deteriorated cannot be equated.
How to judge the deterioration of tea?
Keep tea leaves dry, sealed, protected from light, and cool. If the following conditions occur in tea, regardless of whether it has expired, such tea can no longer be drunk.
Obvious discoloration:
It is normal for the color of tea leaves to darken after being stored for a long time. For example, after storage for about five years, the color of white tea will range from apricot yellow to deep yellow to reddish brown, but the tea soup is always transparent and bright. However, it should be noted that if the tea soup not only darkens, but also becomes dark brown and turbid, with no translucent feeling at all, such tea is likely to have deteriorated.
Peculiar smell:
Tea has a strong adsorption, if it is put together with something with peculiar smell, or if it is not sealed before putting it in the refrigerator, it is easy to smell. If you smell tea leaves with a distinct smell of mothballs and oily smell, it is best not to drink such tea.
Soft and moldy:
The best moisture content of tea is about 5%. If the moisture content exceeds 10%, the tea will easily become damp and moldy. Normal tea leaves are crisp to the touch and easy to break. If the tea leaves are soft when pinched, feel damp, or smell musty, then the tea must have gone bad and can no longer be consumed.
What kind of tea is suitable for long-term storage?
Not all teas are suitable to be stored as old teas, and not all old teas can be drunk and all taste good. Stored tea must be stored under good conditions to have the value of drinking.
Generally speaking, the tea suitable for long-term storage is white tea, dark tea, and Pu'er tea. Green tea and black tea are generally not recommended for long-term storage.
White tea is not fried or kneaded. It is made in the sun. During storage, it will slowly ferment and transform. After 3 years, there will be obvious changes. Continue to store, and the aroma of white tea will change from fresh to rich. Will become more and more sweet.
After being aged, dark teas like Liubao tea and Qianliang tea are obviously softer than new tea, with a scent of aging, a mellow and sweet taste, and some aged dark teas have a distinct golden flower flavor. The raw materials of dark tea are relatively old, and mature stems and leaves contain more substances that are conducive to transformation.
If you are not sure about the quality of tea, you must drink it within the shelf life. This will not only ensure the safety of tea, but also the best drinking period for new tea.