Tea is essentially a food, with its own shelf life and corresponding storage requirements. Different teas have different storage requirements.
Lao Zhang usually doesn't drink much tea, but the customer unit gave him a lot of tea. A few days ago, when I went back to my father-in-law's house, I took a few boxes from it and gave it to my father-in-law to drink. My father-in-law likes tea, so he opened the package and prepared to brew a little to taste it.
As a result, as soon as he opened the bag, he sighed and said, "It's broken." Lao Zhang sighed in his heart when he heard this, for fear that the tea he sent would not be good and make his father-in-law unhappy.
The old father-in-law saw his worried expression, and knew that it was a misunderstanding, so he hurriedly told Lao Zhang that the tea was good tea, but it was broken. He asked Lao Zhang, did he not put the refrigerator?
Lao Zhang replied that he had been on the counter at home, and he had not touched it since he took it home for more than a month.
The old father-in-law also opened the other boxes, whether it was Huangshan Maofeng or Taiping Houkui, the color was yellow, and one box was soft when pinched, and it was not dry at all.
The old father-in-law told Lao Zhang that these teas are all good teas, but they are not stored properly, it is summer, the weather is hot, and it is the rainy season, and the humidity is high. So the tea leaves are yellow and discolored, and they also absorb moisture.
In fact, tea is a food with high requirements for storage conditions, especially in the hot weather in summer, and it is necessary to pay more attention to the storage method. So, in the hot summer, how can you store the tea properly to ensure that it does not deteriorate, is not damp, does not carry over the flavor, and maintains its freshness and aroma?
If you want to do these 6 things for family tea storage, it won't be bad for a year.
1. Avoid high temperatures
High temperature is one of the main reasons for tea spoilage. The ingredients in tea are easy to change in a high temperature environment, resulting in the taste and discoloration of tea leaves. Therefore, the first task of storing tea leaves in the summer is to avoid high temperatures.
First of all, some tea leaves should be stored at low temperatures. For example, green tea, yellow tea, and some oolong teas, etc., are best stored in a cooler place in the short term, such as in a cool locker, etc. If it is a long-term storage of tea, it must be placed in the refrigerator compartment, and pay attention to sealing to avoid moisture of the tea leaves.
Secondly, tea leaves stored at room temperature should also be kept out of direct sunlight. Direct sunlight will cause the temperature of the tea to rise rapidly, accelerating the oxidation process of the tea. When storing tea leaves, you should avoid placing them near windows or in direct sunlight.
2. Protect from moisture
Dampness is the "natural enemy" of tea, once the tea is damp, it will not only lose its aroma, but also easy to mildew, affecting the safety of drinking.
First, sealed storage is key. Tea that is frequently drunk should be placed in a well-sealed container, such as a tin can, ceramic jar or glass bottle, and ensure that the container is dry. Before use, it is best to wipe the container clean with a dry cloth to prevent moisture residue in the container. If it is tea leaves that have been stored for a long time, it should be sealed in multiple layers to avoid outgassing.
Second, desiccant can be used appropriately. Placing food-grade desiccant in the container where the tea is stored can effectively absorb excess water and keep the tea dry. The desiccant needs to be replaced regularly to ensure that it continues to be effective.
3. Prevent odor transfer
Tea has strong adsorption and easily absorbs odors from the surrounding environment. Therefore, special care should be taken to prevent flavor transfer when storing tea leaves.
First of all, different tea leaves should be stored independently. Do not put different types of tea leaves such as green tea and black tea in one box, and it is best to store different types of tea leaves separately to avoid mixing together, so as not to affect the original aroma of the tea.
Second, try to stay away from smelly items. Because tea has strong adsorption, it is necessary to try to stay away from items with strong odors, such as spices, spices, detergents, etc., so as not to absorb peculiar smells from tea.
4. Choose a storage container reasonably
The choice of container for storing tea leaves is also important. Different materials of containers have different sealing and air permeability, and choosing the right container can effectively extend the shelf life of tea.
First, it's good to store green tea in tin cans. Tin cans have good sealing and moisture-proof properties, making them ideal for storing tea leaves. Tin cans perform well in protecting from light and moisture, which can effectively maintain the freshness and aroma of tea leaves.
Second, ceramic jars and purple sand jars can store Pu'er tea. Ceramic jars and purple sand jars have good sealing and air permeability, and are suitable for storing post-fermented tea, such as black tea and Pu'er. However, it should be noted that when using ceramic jars to store tea, it is necessary to ensure that the inside of the jar is dry and clean.
Thirdly, glass bottles are not suitable for storing tea. The glass bottle is transparent and beautiful, but it has strong light transmission, which is not suitable for long-term storage of tea. If you use a glass bottle to store tea leaves, keep it in a cool and dark place and seal it tightly.
5. Pay special attention to: different tea storage methods
Different types of tea have different storage requirements. Here are a few common ways to store tea:
First, the low temperature of green tea is the most important. Green tea has high requirements for the storage environment, especially afraid of high temperature and humidity. It is best to keep green tea in the refrigerator compartment and seal it well to prevent moisture.
Second, black tea is well dried and sealed. Black tea is relatively resistant to storage, but it also needs to be avoided from high temperatures and humidity. Black tea can be kept in a cool, dry place, sealed well, and protected from direct sunlight.
Third, oolong tea should be clearly distinguished. Oolong tea storage should be treated differently according to the different processes and degrees of fermentation, Tieguanyin, Alpine Oolong, etc. need to be refrigerated at low temperature, and Dahongpao, cinnamon and other can be stored at room temperature, but pay attention to moisture and light.
Fourth, ventilation and drying of Pu'er tea is key. Pu'er tea has the characteristics of getting older and more fragrant, but it is also necessary to pay attention to moisture prevention and ventilation, otherwise it is easy to mold, which is not conducive to later transformation. Pu-erh tea should be kept in a dry and ventilated place, away from direct sunlight and moisture.
6. Regular check-ups
During the storage of tea leaves, it is very important to check them regularly. Through regular inspections, the abnormalities of the tea can be detected in time and corresponding measures can be taken.
First, check the tightness. Regularly check the tightness of the storage container to ensure that the container is intact and has a good seal.
Secondly, check the status of the tea leaves. Open the container regularly to check the status of the tea leaves. If you find that the tea leaves are damp, bad or mildew, they should be treated in time to prevent further deterioration.
All in all, the weather is hot in summer, and tea storage needs to pay special attention to issues such as high temperature, humidity, and flavor crossover. Only by mastering the scientific tea storage method can we ensure that each cup of tea can maintain the best quality and flavor.