Do you have tea sitting on your shelf that has been there for years?
Yes, you! I know there is some there.
I have some too.
Are you asking yourself if it is still good?
Well in some cases, yes it is good and in some no.
Flavored teas have a shelf life of about a year.
Light oolongs should be enjoyed most often within a year.
My recommendation is to taste before you toss.
Then if it isn't good, toss it in the garden.
It is great for the soil.
When I first started getting into tea a friend recommended puer teas
to help lower my cholesterol. Puer teas can be an acquired taste,
but I adjusted and began drinking it. I did think there was only one kind of puer,
but have since learned there are varieties of even puer teas.
One thing that I like about puer is that it is aged and can improve
even as it gets older. At the NW Tea Festival this year I had the opportunity
to taste some special puer teas with Jeffrey McIntosh.
They were quite delightful and I ended up coming home with a disk of a special
puer, which is now aging longer in my cupboard.
I love that there are teas aging in my cupboard and it is OK.
In the meantime I will be drinking up my flavored teas and my oolongs and enjoying.
What are you enjoying today?
Yes, you! I know there is some there.
I have some too.
Are you asking yourself if it is still good?
Well in some cases, yes it is good and in some no.
Flavored teas have a shelf life of about a year.
Light oolongs should be enjoyed most often within a year.
My recommendation is to taste before you toss.
Then if it isn't good, toss it in the garden.
It is great for the soil.
When I first started getting into tea a friend recommended puer teas
to help lower my cholesterol. Puer teas can be an acquired taste,
but I adjusted and began drinking it. I did think there was only one kind of puer,
but have since learned there are varieties of even puer teas.
One thing that I like about puer is that it is aged and can improve
even as it gets older. At the NW Tea Festival this year I had the opportunity
to taste some special puer teas with Jeffrey McIntosh.
They were quite delightful and I ended up coming home with a disk of a special
puer, which is now aging longer in my cupboard.
I love that there are teas aging in my cupboard and it is OK.
In the meantime I will be drinking up my flavored teas and my oolongs and enjoying.
What are you enjoying today?
I've wondered that. Everyone gives me tea and I buy tea, too. Eventually you look and wonder how good it is. Glad you mentioned the garden. Mine often ends up dyeing lace or paper!
ReplyDeleteIt was cooler and a bit damp, actually sweater weather. My tea of choice today was Twining Pumpkin Chai. Thanks for the update about how long teas are good.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying a mug of green tea here in "my" Indian kitchen :-)
ReplyDeleteI have my special teas stored in air-tight tins. However, there's one tea I don't use quite so often, which was a gift i.e. Earl Grey from the Dilmah Company. (The tea is stored in a little tin inside another tin)!
ReplyDeleteThe puer teas are new to me, and they are an acquired taste! I've had some dark, deep blend teas taste great a little over a year. But I notice green teas are best within/less than a year. Sometimes I add loose leaf tea to simple whole spice potpourri. Depending on the tea, it might be "off the date" but still smells great! :o) I love tea. It's been a full, sometimes stressful week, so I'm mellowing with a cup of chamomile at the moment. Happy Weekend, Marilyn ((HUGS))
ReplyDeleteI have tea that is years and years old. I haven't had the heart to toss it and now I won't. Into the garden it will all go. Thanks!
ReplyDelete