Store loose leaf tea in an airtight container, in a cool, dark, dry cupboard, away from strong smells. Air, light, heat, moisture and odours are what make tea go flat, so keep all five away and your tea will taste as good as the day it arrived.
1. Keep the air out
Tea leaves hold the oils and aromas that give each tea its character, and they fade once exposed to air. Use a container with a tight lid. Our tea pouches reseal, so you can keep your tea in them: squeeze out the air before you seal it, and close it straight after use.
2. Keep it in the dark
Sunlight quickly dulls tea's flavour and colour. A cupboard is best. If you love the look of glass jars on a shelf, choose tinted or UV-protective glass, or keep clear jars behind a cupboard door.
3. Keep it cool
Heat speeds up the loss of flavour. Keep tea away from the kettle, the oven, the dishwasher, the top of the fridge and sunny windowsills.
4. Keep it dry
Tea absorbs moisture from the air, which weakens the flavour and, at worst, lets mould grow. Always use a dry spoon, and don't store tea above the kettle or in a steamy kitchen corner.
5. Keep it away from strong smells
Tea soaks up smells, which is how jasmine tea gets its scent. It's great when it's on purpose, but not when your green tea starts tasting of curry powder. Keep tea away from spices, coffee, herbs and cleaning products.
What's the best container for tea?
- Tins or tea caddies with a tight inner lid are the classic choice: airtight and dark.
- Ceramic jars with a sealed lid work well and don't let light in.
- Tinted or UV-protective glass is fine if it seals well. Keep clear glass in a cupboard.
- Resealable pouches are good for smaller amounts, as long as you squeeze out the air.
Avoid thin plastic tubs that can hold on to smells, paper bags and anything left open on the worktop. Don't keep tea in the fridge or freezer either: condensation forms each time you take it out, and damp is bad for tea.
How long does loose leaf tea keep?
Tea doesn't really go off if it's kept dry, but it slowly loses flavour. As a rough guide, most black teas taste best within about a year, and green and white teas within about 6 to 12 months. Matcha fades fastest once opened, so use it within a few weeks. Some teas, like pu'erh, are made to age and can improve for years. Check the best before date on the pack, and buy smaller amounts of the teas you drink less often.
Keep your tea fresh
Once it's stored well, brew it well too. Here's how to brew the perfect cup of loose leaf tea, and why loose leaf tastes better than teabags.
Discover new teas every time
A Blue Coffee Box tea subscription brings rare and single-origin loose leaf teas through your letterbox, with a free infuser in the first box. From £9.99 with free UK delivery, and you can skip or cancel anytime.
