Storing tea optimally – in the fridge?

• Storing tea correctly
• Storing brewed tea in the fridge
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You should store loose tea in an airtight container. For example, you can pack it in a sealed metal or ceramic tin. You can store tea bags in their original packaging.

Tea should be stored in a cool, dark and dry place. Moisture can cause mould growth on the bag. The tea will lose its aromas when it’s exposed to light. You also shouldn’t store tea next to spices because it can easily acquire their smell and taste.

The best way to check the shelf life is to use your own senses. Make sure the bag is sealed correctly and there is no discolouration. The tea should also smell good, and not old and stale. If the tea tastes normal once it’s brewed, it can be drunk safely even after the best-before date has expired.

Loose tea should not be stored in the fridge as the humidity level inside is often too high. In the fridge, there would also be a risk that the tea would acquire the aromas of other foods.

Nevertheless, you should ideally store brewed teain the fridge.

Do you want to reheat your tea or make an iced tea? But how long will the tea last in the fridge? It’s important that you seal the tea in an airtight container to prevent any aromas from other foods transferring over to the tea.

In addition, you will prevent the growth of bacteria and mould by storing it in a cool and airtight place.

For fresh iced tea, which you’re preparing for the whole day, it’s best to place the double-dosed and still hot tea in an ice cube pot that is 2/3 full. This trick will keep the tea clear and allow its aroma to develop in full.

Brewed tea can be kept in the fridge for around three to five days. You can also store brewed, green tea and matcha tea in the fridge without any issues. However, look out for any changes in taste, odour or appearance. It’s better to dispose of a tea that is cloudy or smells bad.

If you wish to extend the shelf life, you can for example divide up the brewed tea into appropriate portions and freeze them.

The potential storage time for sweetened tea and tea containing milk or other added ingredients is shorter. For example, we recommend you allow the freshly brewed tea to cool down at room temperature and then place it in the fridge in an airtight container without adding any more ingredients.

If you were to place the hot tea in the fridge straight away, condensation would form inside the packaging. This would make your tea watery and favour the formation of bacteria. The higher temperature inside the fridge would increase energy consumption and result in other food being less well chilled.