We're often asked, "What is the best way to store tea?". The quick answer is much like how you'd store coffee: away from light, humidity, and moisture. However, taking an extra moment to learn about storage will help your tea stay fresh and flavourful, and by extension, save you money in the long run.

If you love and cherish the ritual of a beautiful cup of tea, we assume you value keeping your stash as well-preserved as possible? Today, we're sharing the do's and don'ts when it comes to storing your tea in the best way possible. 

First of all, let's chat about flavour and freshness.

Have you ever brewed an old favourite tea from your collection only to find it tastes weak and disappointing? If so, you've experienced firsthand the consequences of poor tea storage.

In a previous journal post, what truly goes into each cup of tea, we share why quality and taste is something we are never willing to compromise on. It all begins with meticulous sourcing from only the best organic growers, followed by paying close attention to how our tea is stored and transported in optimal conditions (cool, dark, dry, and airtight), ensuring the tea is in tip-top shape when it arrives.

By contrast, low-quality tea bags are typically transported unsealed, then sit loose in boxes on the shelf for goodness knows how long before reaching your cup. Any decent flavour the tea might have had is long lost, not to mention the numerous health benefits. Furthermore, the lower-grade tea in most tea bags (aka 'dust' ) has smaller particles, making it more exposed to the elements and degrading the quality faster. 

While drinking tea made with tea bags is fine, you'll probably love loose-leaf tea even more, if you already enjoy your regular cup of tea! Who knows? An exciting, new tea experience could be just around the corner for you?

Does loose-leaf tea expire?

Tea doesn't 'expire' as such, however, it does lose its flavour and intensity with time. Fresh tea should taste aromatic and brew a bright and bold-tasting cup. If you notice your tea is becoming considerably less flavourful, it might be time to replace it. 

With good storage, we recommend consuming your tea within four months of purchasing it. 

What is the best vessel to store tea in?

Although decanting your tea into glass jars might seem aesthetically pleasing, this exposes the tea to UV rays that become magnified and deteriorate your tea quickly. Direct heat can also affect the flavour and freshness of your tea. Avoid placing your tea on a sunny windowsill or next to your stovetop.

The best vessel to store your tea in should be airtight: metal, tin or ceramic are all popular choices. If you do choose glass, make sure it's opaque or dark-coloured so light cannot penetrate the tea. Try to avoid plastic if possible, as it can absorb and then pass on odours, or leach toxins into the tea. Store your tea vessel somewhere dark and dry, such as your pantry.

Say hello to our cleverly designed tins.

Want to make life easy for yourself? Our simple and elegant Webster's tea tins are created for optimal storage conditions: cool, dark, dry, and airtight. Designed to keep your tea fresh and ready, whenever you desire it. Each tin holds one of our bulk bags of tea just perfectly. Plus, they look gorgeous lined up next to each other. 

And there you have it! The art of storing your tea well. We hope these tips inspire you to look after your collection, and if you need a top-up, look no further than our vibrant and delicious range of organic loose-leaf tea.