Tea is relatively forgiving, and rarely spoils as long as it's stored properly. Old tea may simply be less flavorful and fresh than new tea, and will brew up a weaker cup with a stale flavor. In this sense, tea doesn't actually have an “expiration date” after which it will be unsafe to drink.
As mentioned, tea bags do not expire. Neither does loose leaf tea. Dry tea leaves and bags are typically good for a whopping two years before quality starts rolling down a hill. All teas made from the camellia sinensis plant, whether green or black teas, will begin to lose their flavor over time [3].
Should you store tea bags in the refrigerator or freezer? Storing tea bags in the fridge or freezer is not recommended, since condensation can result, which will harm the taste and flavor of the tea.
We recommend storing loose leaf tea in an opaque, airtight container to prolong its shelf life. In order to keep tea fresh, you should protect tea leaves from exposure to air, heat, light, and moisture. This means storing tea in an airtight container and keeping it in a cool, dark place.
If you buy tea bags, keep them in their original box or store them in a plastic container or bin. Loose tea should be stored in an airtight container made of ceramic or tin to keep the light out; glass jars are OK if they're stored in a dark cupboard or drawer.
Yes, you can add tea bags to your compost bin or garden — with an important caveat. Before composting your tea bags, it is important to ensure that they are made from biodegradable materials. An estimated 20-30% of tea bags on the market are composed of polypropylene, which is not compostable.
Grass Booster: Tea bags can also help your grass stay green and pristine. Just soak the grass seed in brewed tea before seeding your lawn, or plant your lawn with used tea bags. The nutrient-rich brew will eventually seep into the surrounding soil.
Another great fact about tea bags is that they can also be reused once more. We suggest to reuse the tea bags just one more time, or else the tea will become too weak. With all of these great ideas for reusing your old tea bags, you'll most likely want to store a few away until you're ready to use them.
Because tea is not bad for your little one! Don't be scared — the right tea selection is a great alternative to juice. With milk and water being the primary healthy drink options available to older babies and toddlers, tea provides flavorful drink variety while avoiding over-sweetened juices and juice drinks.
Many teas — particularly black and green leaf varieties — contain caffeine. (That's why us tired parents love 'em for ourselves, right?) Caffeine, a stimulant, isn't recommended in any amount for children under age 12.
Historically, the average purchaser of tea bags in the United States was female, 35-55 years of age. The consumers of the beverage she prepared were also a little older than the average dispersion of age within the population.
You could try this watering plants with tea hack on plants that are happiest in slightly acidic soil – like poinsettia, hydrangeas, spider plants and rubber plants. But stick to standard plant food for plants that prefer alkaline conditions.
When you next make a cup of tea don't throw away the old bag because it has many uses that you might not know about. Black tea contains tannic acid and theobromine which removes heat from sunburn so rubbing cold tea water on sore skin will soothe pain. Old tea bags can also be used to flavour rice or pasta.
Using leftover or freshly brewed tea can be helpful to hydrate, fertilize, and nourish plants. Be sure to utilize organic brands to limit pesticide use. Also, consider the pH needs of the plants that are being watered. Plants that enjoy marginally acidic soil will do well with the addition of tea.
Burying your tea bags in the garden or tossing them in your compost pile helps eliminate excess waste. Used tea bags (and coffee grounds) will help keep bugs away from your plants. The odor deters pests from chewing on your flowers and veggies.
Two words: natural fertilizer. When you incorporate tea leaves into your garden soil, they release nitrogen naturally which helps balance out any carbon-rich materials that may already be present. Reusing tea leaves also helps you improve drainage and adds to soil structure.
You might normally turn to baking soda to deodorize your refrigerator, but tea can actually do the same job. Fill an open container with a few used tea bags, place it inside your fridge, and that funky smell will be gone in no time.
Whatever you are storing your tea in must be completely inert. Choose containers made of food-grade stainless steel, glass, or ceramic. Some wooden containers, airtight tins with strong-smelling rubber seals, and plastic containers can all leave your tea with a disagreeable aroma and taste.
Zip-lock style foil bags lined with plastic (like the ones we sell our tea in) are also good, and have the advantage that you can press out excess air before you re-seal the zip closure. If you really like to use glass jars for your tea, please keep them in a dark cupboard.
First of all, you'll need to store the tea bag in a moist medium. Once they get dried out, they become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. So your best bet is to store them in a small shot glass filled with water. That will keep them seeping while they are being stored.
High quality tea kept dry and sealed is safe to drink indefinitely. In fact, that's why people crafted tea in the first place - fresh tea leaves can't last as long as teas that have been crafted into green tea, black tea, oolong tea, and others.