How to store tea at home

The tradition of tea drinking in each house has its own. Someone observes all the details of the ritual, breathes on the tea leaves every other time. And someone splashes boiling water into a mug and throws there everything that he finds in the closet. Therefore, few people know how to properly store tea.

It would seem that the special required ordinary leaflets? If you are a fan of chifira, you can not read. If a professional collector, then you will not be interested. And if the average resident who wants to drink just good tea, then you are welcome.

Tea storage conditions

To get the usual drink, we need a little unusual conditions. Each variety of tea requires its own. But in general, they all boil down to strict requirements:

Minimum humidity
The leaves are very hygroscopic, absorb water like a sponge. 30-40% - the maximum allowable value for storing tea.

Each time, opening a can, moisture from the air is partially absorbed by the leaves.There is a mold, an unpleasant smell.

Council Spread out in small portions, the tea will live longer.

Absolute darkness
Any light, especially solar, is a powerful oxidizing agent. Try putting some tea in the light, then brew it. The difference will be felt immediately.

Council If you have to keep the leaves in a bright place, the jar or box should be very dense.

Temperature
It should be between 0 and 18 ° C. Higher temperatures are able to continue fermentation, which will turn, for example, white or red tea into brown smelly rags.

Council The most suitable for storing tea is a cabinet in the kitchen. You can use a separate breadbasket. Strictly only wooden and always new. Plastic emits chemicals that are well impregnated with tea.

Lack of strong smells nearby
Again, the notorious tea absorption. Absorbs absolutely any fragrance. Coffee, spices, vinegar, garlic, synthetic odors. Even if the kitchen is cleaned onions or fish, and you decide to brew tea. Do not be surprised then "pleasant" aftertaste.

Council Some flavored green tea smells a little fresh fish.This is a feature of the variety.

A good place for dry tea leaves is a simple fridge. Vegetable compartment is ideal for temperature and humidity. Naturally, you need to keep the tea in individual packaging to protect it from the unpleasant odors that are always inside each refrigerator.

Proper dishes

Successful pledge of high-quality storage of tea is a suitable container. Size, transparency, material, all of this is of great importance.

It is not recommended to store tea in dishes from:

• plastic
• paper
• gland
• fabrics

Such materials pass air, interact with the contents themselves, oxidizing it.

Most often it is recommended to use containers from:

• porcelain
• ceramics
• foil
• glass

Such boxes or cans do not allow oxygen, light and odors. They do not have their own flavor, moisture does not pass through them. The cover should be tightly ground, glass, metal, porcelain. If you use a package of food foil, it is better to take for reliability with a "zip-fastener" or with a special clothespin.

If all the boxes or cans are the same outside, you must sign them,once again not to open the lid, selecting the desired brew.

Storage features

It is strictly forbidden to take tea for brewing barehanded. Pour into storage tanks is also better with a special spoon, spatula, just on weight. On the hands there are traces of fat, sweat. They quickly switch to tea leaves, changing its flavor.

Do not tamp the leaves. They break down, releasing enzymes and flavor. All this will erode ahead of time, which will significantly change the taste of the finished drink.

Before purchasing, you must carefully read the information about the time of tea assembly. Not packing, namely assembly! After all, it can take quite a long period, and where and how tea was stored is unknown.

It is not desirable to change the jars for tea. The flavors will mix, the drink will be irrevocably spoiled. Began to store a certain variety in this capacity, it means that only this kind of tea is poured there.

A wooden breadbasket is good, but hardly anyone would think of just pouring tea in handfuls. Of course, individual boxes and cans, tightly closed, are placed in it.

Polyethylene or plastic bags are completely unsuitable as containers.They condense moisture, and the micropores still miss foreign flavors.

Green teas are recommended to be kept strictly sealed. Even observing other conditions, but providing access of oxygen, it is possible to change leaves unintentionally. They are fermented by interacting with the air. Instead of beautiful green tea, you get a very mediocre red.

Beautiful earthenware or clay jars for tea, can be an element of decor. They do not need to clean the closet, but also put in direct sunlight is also not worth it. The far corner of the table or shelf, hanging away from the plate - a great place. Such containers are pleasing to the eye, bring aesthetic satisfaction, and of course protect tea from light and moisture.

Most tea shops offer an extensive selection of accessories. Including ware for storage. If possible, it is better to buy ceramic jars with a silicone lid. Then just the tea leaves will be safe and sound.

Errors

Often, in the windows of shops you can see glass jars with fragrant leaves.Gift sets with elegant design are suitable only for the enjoyment of aesthetic taste. For true tea connoisseurs, this is common straw. After all, a transparent jar stood in the light of unknown how much, what flavor or taste can we talk about?

It is recommended to store tea in the freezer. This is pretty good advice when tea is low or used soon. So the tea leaves give out the aroma better, it turns out to be more saturated. But this method is completely unsuitable for large stocks. Being for a long time at low temperatures, the tea quickly disappears.

Now it has become fashionable to give tea in beautiful wooden chests. A good storage option, if you know exactly what kind of wood these works of art are made of. Hardwood - the most suitable. A prerequisite - the chest should be free from any synthetic coating inside. Lucky paint is beautiful, but it smells disgusting. Would you like to drink tea with a taste of solvent? Feel free to choose a fully trimmed chest.

The question of how to store does not apply to packaged types of tea. This is the dust of Indian roads, and not an invigorating healing drink.

It happens that, despite all efforts, tea leaves have become unsuitable for brewing. Some sadly throw precious leaves in the trash, but do not rush. Even spoiled tea can serve. It can be used as a deodorizer. Due to its absorption, it can eliminate unpleasant odors in underwear and clothing cabinets, refrigerators, shoes. It is enough to scatter the remaining tea leaves on fabric bags, then expand them into the required places. A day or less from the vile odors will not remain a trace. Now you can throw out tea with a clear conscience. At least some benefit if you did not have time to brew and drink.

Even absolutely strictly observing all the rules, tea is not recommended to be stored longer than 1.5 years. The exception is made only by some grades of green tea and so popular recently puer. These subspecies of the statute of limitations only benefit.

Sometimes there are recommendations on the network how to store tea in a specially equipped room, with temperature, humidity and forced ventilation controls. Of course, only a few can afford such luxury.Basically, these are collectors of elite varieties, the cost of which sometimes exceeds the price of an average car. The ordinary lover of good tea, these excesses are completely unnecessary. It is enough to know the basic rules of storage to enjoy a precious drink.

Before you buy a large supply of your favorite tea, you should look to the store. If the assortment is regularly updated, then on the shelves of a box and a jar are not worth years. Chance to get a drink of the gods. And if the packs are on display for months, most likely the grass is already inside, without taste or smell.

The most useful thing is to properly store your tea, just to be sure that you drink what you pay for.

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