When it comes to storing green tea, I believe many tea lovers will store the green tea they bought in the refrigerator.
Some are refrigerated, some are frozen, so is it better to refrigerate or freeze?
The answer to this question depends on the situation. The details are as follows:
Generally speaking, green tea with a short storage time and ready for drinking within a certain period of time is recommended to be refrigerated.
The temperature of the refrigerator compartment of a household refrigerator is generally between 0 and 5 degrees; this temperature range can effectively prevent the premature oxidation of green tea for green tea that is afraid of high-temperature oxidation, and can also maintain the original flavor of green tea.
However, most household refrigerators are stored together with food, and the refrigerator door is often opened and closed, and the temperature cannot be kept constant. The air in the refrigerator circulates and has a certain humidity, so over time, green tea will still undergo slow oxidation, but the speed is much slower than normal temperature.
Therefore, for green tea that needs to be stored for a long time, it is recommended to put it in the freezer.
The temperature of the freezer is usually around minus 18 degrees Celsius, and the water vapor in the air will condense into frost, so the dryness of the air can reach 100%.
When the tea loses the two conditions of temperature and humidity, the internal chemical reaction almost stops, the tea will not be oxidized and deteriorate, the shelf life will be longer, and it can also retain its freshness.
Of course, whether it is refrigerated or frozen, you need to pay attention to the following points:
1. Most green tea is half a catty, and it can't be finished in a short time; it can be divided into multiple, individually sealed small packages for storage, and take out a package when drinking, and brew directly, which is very convenient.
This can reduce the number of times the package is opened, prevent repeated contact with air, and effectively prevent the oxidation and deterioration of tea.
2. Before putting green tea in the refrigerator, be sure to do a good job of sealing.
Green tea has strong hygroscopicity and adsorption. If it is not sealed well, green tea will absorb moisture in the refrigerator, causing the tea to rehydrate. Once rehydrated, green tea will quickly deteriorate.
The main function of a household refrigerator is to store ingredients and leftovers, which will have a smell; if the seal is not good, various odors in the refrigerator will mix into the green tea, affecting the taste.
Once the green tea tastes bad and deteriorates, it is no longer suitable for drinking and should be thrown away to avoid adverse effects on the body.
If there is a small refrigerator dedicated to storing green tea at home, it would be the best.
If not, you can empty a drawer in the household refrigerator and use it specifically to store tea, but be sure to seal it well to prevent moisture resurgence and odor contamination.
3. After taking the green tea out of the refrigerator, do not open the package immediately. It must be placed indoors for a few hours to allow the green tea in the bag to heat up naturally. The bag can only be opened when the tea temperature is close to the room temperature.
This step is very important, because if the sealed bag is opened all at once, the huge temperature difference will cause the tea leaves to condense moisture in the air, causing the tea leaves to absorb moisture and resurge, which will greatly shorten the shelf life of the green tea and even cause the green tea to deteriorate and become undrinkable.
Each time you take out the tea leaves, you should seal them in time and put them back in the refrigerator to keep the storage environment stable as much as possible.
At the same time, it is not recommended to freeze and thaw frozen green tea repeatedly. The temperature difference between cold and hot will make the green tea lose its freshness or even deteriorate.
In summary, whether it is refrigerated or frozen, it has a very good preservation effect on green tea. The difference lies in the preservation time.
For ordinary families, they should decide whether to refrigerate or freeze according to their actual situation.
If you usually drink it at any time, just seal the green tea and put it in the refrigerator.
If you don't drink it in a short time and it's not opened, you can put it in the freezer with a lower temperature.
Although storing green tea in the refrigerator can increase the preservation time, the storage time should not be too long. Try not to cross the New Year. After the New Year, it will be old tea, and the taste and aroma will be much worse than new tea.
Because no matter how good the preservation method is, it can never be 100% perfect. Instead of letting it age and then drinking it, it is better to drink it fresh. Isn't the purpose of drinking green tea for its "freshness"?