Is Your Tea Dead?

On a normal day, I reach for coffee, but when life sucks, tea is my shoulder to cry on. When I’m sick, or have a cold, or when I’ve already had coffee for the fire truck, I turn on the kettle and prepare a soothing cup of tea. The problem with modern tea culture is that it cannot last forever. Before you know it, your tea can become a ghost of itself, and it doesn’t taste as good. Fortunately, there are several signs by which you can check if your tea is strong.

Check color

Aside from moisture causing mold, the tea is dry and won’t necessarily “go bad”. However, over time (from six months to a year, depending on the variety), the tea loses much of the flavor and health benefits for which it is advertised. Before you start brewing, pay attention to the color of your tea leaves, according to Dona Tea Company . Tea is made from plant materials and should be multi-colored, especially if it is herbal tea with flowers and spices. A tea that is past its prime will have a dull, dull hue.

sniff it

Let’s say you’re using tea bags and it’s not easy for you to observe the leaves. Give him a good breath: you must get something here. Even teas that have lost some of their former brightness will still have a noticeable aroma. If you find yourself almost snorting out of the bag and can’t tell if it’s mint or peach, it’s time for a new batch.

Be a witness to the cool

Even if you’ve started brewing tea before sniffing the tea bag, it’s still not too late. Once the tea hits the hot water, it should give off additional flavor and, depending on the tea, color the water. English breakfast tea, which is brewed for five minutes, should be fragrant and dark. Anything else and you’ll probably be drinking as boringly as the English can be.

Keep tea for years to come

Help your tea keep its appeal longer by storing it properly. Tea leaves are vulnerable to light, moisture and odors. For tea bags, keep tea bags in their original packaging. Most tea makers include a surrounding bag and box to protect against these three elements, whether it be separate impermeable bags or one large bag of wax inside an opaque box, as Celestial Seasonings uses. Loose tea is often stored in metal containers. Not only do they look chic, but the canisters can be airtight and completely block out light, moisture, and bad odors. Would you trade the boxed Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy Yogi tea bags for something in this loose leaf tin? You can get the best of both worlds. Many things come in tins, so recycle an old one or buy a tea can for less than five dollars. Load the tea bag into the canister and seal it to prolong the life of the tea.