Tea Storage

Keep it dry. The best container is a metal box with a double lid, or a bottle with a tight cover that is light proof. Loose-leaf tea keeps better than tea packed in tins or boxes because it has a larger bulk. Some tea comes wrapped in tinfoil and boxed, if you expect to use it all in a month or two, it is all right to leave it in the original bag. Oolong tea (with 2-3 percent moisture compared to 5-7 percent in others) keeps longer. If tea gets damp you can spread it out in a pan and dry it in the oven. Store tea in a cool, dry place, preferably well ventilated. Tea absorbs other odors easily, so never keep it in a closet with mothballs or other strong-smelling substances. Avoid placing tea in refrigerator or freezer. Once tea is tainted by an outside odor, it cannot be salvaged.