Tea Education
How to Store Loose-Leaf Tea Properly
The five things that degrade tea, and a simple storage routine that keeps leaf tasting close to new for months.
Key takeaways
- Air, light, heat, moisture and odour are the five enemies.
- Buy smaller amounts more often rather than stockpiling.
- Keep the scoop dry — a damp spoon ruins a whole tin.
A storage routine that works
Decant into an opaque airtight tin on the day it arrives, write the date on masking tape, and keep it in a cabinet away from the stovetop and spice rack.
Buying quantities
For green tea, 50-100g at a time is plenty. Black and pu-erh forgive slower drinking. There is no prize for a full shelf of stale tea.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I store tea in the original bag?
- Short term, yes, if it has a good zip and foil lining. Squeeze the air out each time.
- Does tea go off?
- It rarely becomes unsafe, but aroma fades. Stale tea tastes flat and papery rather than bad.
About the author
Written by the Leaf & Steep editorial team. We brew, weigh and re-test everything we publish at home with ordinary kitchen equipment — no lab, no sponsorships influencing the verdict. How we test.
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