COLUMN Tea Column

How to store tea
leaves properly

Tea is a living thing.
To enjoy the natural flavor of tea for a long time

The taste of tea changes greatly depending on how it is stored. Therefore, at Kanehachi, we want you to enjoy the rich, aromatic flavor of tea that our tea makers have painstakingly cultivated, in a fresh, lasting state. We are committed to teaching the best storage methods and strive to teach as many customers as possible how to store tea properly.

The expiration date of tea

When tea oxidizes, its unique flavor deteriorates significantly. By the way, tea bags are usually filled with nitrogen gas to prevent oxidation.
Please note that this is the provisional best before date until the tea bag is unsealed. Once opened, the nitrogen gas also escapes, so how to properly store the tea after opening it is an important point to maintain the original flavor of the tea and enjoy it for as long as possible.

Storage method before and after opening

Estimated expiration date for unopened tea

The expiration date for unopened tea is usually one year at room temperature, but it is best to store unopened tea in the refrigerator or freezer (tea will not freeze even if frozen). If you store it in the freezer, you can enjoy it deliciously even after the expiration date.

Estimated expiration date for tea after opening

When putting tea in the refrigerator after opening, do not put it in the opened tea bag (i.e. with the bag open). Tea will absorb various odors from meat, vegetables, etc. in the refrigerator. If you store opened tea in the refrigerator, be sure to transfer it to an airtight container such as a tea can.
Also, try to drink the tea as soon as possible after opening.

	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Store in tea bag at room temperature	30days	20days	30days	40days
Transfer to tea canister etc. and store at room temperature	60days	50days	60days	70days
Transfer to tea canister and store in refrigerator	90days	80days	90days	100days

★ The expiration date after opening is only an estimate.

What if the expiration date has passed or the tea has been stored improperly and lost its original flavor?

Try lightly frying the tea in a frying pan. This will remove the excess moisture absorbed by the tea leaves, restoring the original fragrant flavor of the tea.
You can also warm up damp tea in an oven range (low temperature setting for less than 30 seconds, one teapot serving = about 7-10g) to bring back the original flavor of the tea.

Tips:

Do not add oil to the frying pan. Also, if it is too hot, it will turn into "hojicha" (roasted green tea), so be careful not to over-fry (overheat) it!