When you go to buy tea you want to make sure it is fresh. Buying stale tea will result in a flat taste. Tea that has been sitting around will lose a lot of the oils that give it the fresh flavor. There are several things you can do to ensure you are only buying tea that is fresh.
Check the Aroma
A fresh tea will have a strong aroma. In most cases you should be able to smell it through the packaging. You may feel odd smelling a box of tea at the store, but your taste buds will thank you for it later. If you are at an actual tea store they will encourage you to check the aroma.
Look at the Leaves
If you are able to inspect the tea leaves you’ll be much better off. Fresh leaf tea will have a slight sheen to it. It will be dried, but it should have a shimmer. This is the oil coming through the tea leaf. If the leaves look very brittle and dry, they are probably older. You can still get a good cup of tea from older leaves, but it may not last as long once you get them home.
When You Buy Tea Online
When you buy tea online you have to be more cautious. You won’t be able to inspect the product in person. Check out the website before you invest any money. The Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) will allow you to search for websites with the URL. Keep in mind that if a company isn’t a member of the BBB you may not get a lot of information. You also won’t get information on what the problem was, just if it was resolved or not. Also keep in mind that a tea store can easily get a poor rating for not responding to a customer complaint. Without knowing what the complaint was there is no way of telling if it was a legitimate complaint. Checking other customer reviews on tea forums can be very helpful as well. You can get information on trusted sites to order tea online and which ones to avoid.
Boxed VS Loose
If you have an option, choose a loose leaf tea is always going to create a fresher cup of tea. With tea bags you can’t closely inspect the product. You can rely on the expiration dates provided on the packaging, but tea has an extraordinarily long shelf life. This doesn’t give you much information on when and how the tea was packaged. If you use brands you trust, or reputable brands, you may be ok. Even so, if you have the option to buy tea that is loose, you’ll be better off.
Making and Storing the Tea
When you buy tea it’s just as important to understand how to brew it and store it to preserve freshness. You may find very decorative glass jars that you think would be perfect to showcase your fresh tea, but this isn’t a good idea. Light, air, and temperature all affect how long your loose leaf teas will stay fresh. You should store the tea in a dark place that is room temperature. This means an opaque container on your kitchen counter will work perfectly. You also want to make sure it’s air tight. Don’t put boxed tea in the fridge or freezer unless you want to buy tea more frequently. The colder temperatures and excess moisture will cause the tea to become stale much faster. Brewing the tea is also going to lead to the fresh taste. If you brew tea with regular tap water you may be taking away from the flavor. Instead, use a filter or purchase spring water. Be sure you understand what brew time is suggested for the types of tea you purchased. Green tea will have a shorter brew time than black tea. If you keep these things in mind you can always make sure that when you buy tea you are getting the most for your money.
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