There are a few things you can do to prolong the shelf life of your tea. The good news is, it isn’t rocket science.
First things first: Does loose leaf tea go bad?
The answer is both yes and no depending on who you ask and their flavor palette. For us, the answer is, YES.
Tea doesn't typically spoil or become unsafe to consume, but it can lose its flavor and aroma over time. The accent flavors will be hard to distinguish and you might need to use twice as many herbs to get a decent flavor profile.
The longer tea sits, the more it oxidizes and degrades, leading to a stale taste and aroma. Essentially, it will taste flat.
Factors that affect the shelf life of loose leaf tea include its cultivation method, quality, light exposure, and storage conditions.
Some types of tea, such as black tea, have a longer shelf life than green or white tea. Additionally, high-quality tea that is stored properly in an airtight container and kept away from heat, light, and moisture will last longer than lower quality tea that is stored in less-than-ideal conditions.
So, how long does loose leaf tea last?
As a general rule of thumb, most loose leaf teas will last around six months to a year if stored properly. While others believe that two years is a more suitable number, we have not found a product that has a full robust taste after sitting for such a time.
That is, unless the type of tea is one that gets better with age. Teas like aged pu-erh, can improve with age and have a longer shelf life.
Most importantly, keep your packaging air tight and in a cool, moisture free place.
High Quality Organic Herbs
Our choice of herb is a quality organic, loose leaf herb.. We try to find suppliers that are as close to us as possible so we can get as fresh of flavor as possible for our blends like Tea To Make You Smile. Its fresh flavor alone is a reason to relax and smile.
When you use fresh, whole herbs, you're getting the full range of flavors and aromas as the deterioration of the oils in the leaves has not progressed for too long. This can lead to a more complex and satisfying tea experience. (1) (2)
It is also important to consider organic herbs to minimize your exposure to harsh industrial chemicals and heavy metals. (1) (2)
Our blend Happy Hibiscus contains noni leaf. It is extremely hard to find quality, certified organic leaves. Luckily, we were able to find a supplier in Hawaii that uses a strict set of organic practices.
But with the demand being so small or noni leaves, it doesn't meet the quantity production for organic certification. Thus, once demand climbs this herb will make its way to being certified.
Flavor Quality and Health Benefits
When choosing herbs for your tea, it's important to opt for high-quality, organic herbs to maximize flavor and aroma. It might cost a tad more, but it is well worth it when it comes to each cup’s flavor and your health.
Most importantly, experiment for yourself. There is a large margin of error for most people when it comes to tea. Buy a low quality tea - just look for a really cheap price tag.
And then buy something that is a few dollars more and organic.
It isn’t hard to taste the difference.
Or as we say, fresh chamomile is a beautiful flower with a honey taste and aroma. Bad chamomile is like tasting a dirty gym bag.
Citations
- Reinholds I, Pugajeva I, Bavrins K, Kuckovska G, Bartkevics V. Mycotoxins, pesticides and toxic metals in commercial spices and herbs. Food Addit Contam Part B Surveill. 2017 Mar;10(1):5-14. doi: 10.1080/19393210.2016.1210244. Epub 2016 Oct 18. PMID: 27397646.
- Mie A, Andersen HR, Gunnarsson S, Kahl J, Kesse-Guyot E, Rembiałkowska E, Quaglio G, Grandjean P. Human health implications of organic food and organic agriculture: a comprehensive review. Environ Health. 2017 Oct 27;16(1):111. doi: 10.1186/s12940-017-0315-4. PMID: 29073935; PMCID: PMC5658984.