I bought a 100-gram Twining's Earl Grey loose tea leaves which came in an aluminium foil-sealed air-tight tin box. i store the tin box in the pantry. With time, I noticed that the aroma and flavour of the tea weakened. I reckon I took about a month to finish the tea.
Is there any way to not let this happen?
I'd suggest the only option would be to use it quicker?
I've never heard of storing tea in the freezer, and it could pick up that freezer/fridge smell so you're just trading one effect for another.
As the tea weakens, try using more to compensate (longer steeping can bring out more bitter/astringent qualities).
I'd suggest the only option would be to use it quicker?
I've never heard of storing tea in the freezer, and it could pick up that freezer/fridge smell so you're just trading one effect for another.
As the tea weakens, try using more to compensate (longer steeping can bring out more bitter/astringent qualities).
The connoisseur Chinese tea drinkers(and speculators) store their very expensive cakes of 'pu er' tea on racks after individually wrapping them with light cotton cloth which allows areation and ventalation in a cool cellar like rooms with the right humidity similar to a humidor for Cuban cigars.
Some of these teas are aged for 30-40 years which they claim improves the flavor.
The 'choice teas' are reported to sell for tens of thousands of USD for a cake at tea auctions.
Because I tend to buy it in large quantities, I keep loose tea for much longer than a month; I've never noticed a loss of flavor. Earl Grey tea is a flavored tea, so my guess is that it is the flavoring agent that loses its strength over time, not the tea itself.
Because I tend to buy it in large quantities, I keep loose tea for much longer than a month; I've never noticed a loss of flavor.
How do you keep it, NA?
(I'll come back to you, OP.)
I store it in plastic storage bags. specifically Ziploc brand bags.
I press as much air out of them as possible, usually by folding the bag over before "zipping" the seal.
Thanks, NA - that makes sense.
My tea - 50g at a time - has been delivered in suchlike bags of late. I don't think it's Ziploc but it's similar. The outside is paper and the inside is foil with a plastic (nylon?) thingy which presses together and seals airtight. Very effective - like you, I press out most of the air.
which came in an aluminium foil-sealed air-tight tin box
I'm wondering if the box is air-tight on arrival but not after opening, sp? i.e. tins aren't air-tight. Notwithstanding others' suggestions/points, I'd go with NA's. Or get hold of some oil of bergamot and add a few drops to your Earl Grey; this tea is flavoured with such oil, as you may know.