There are several ways to store your tea: metal tins, wooden boxes, and pouches. While pouches are often overlooked in favour of tea caddies, they have real advantages worth knowing about. Why choose a pouch for storing your tea? Is it a suitable option for loose-leaf tea? And for which types of tea? Here are a few practical tips to weave into your daily routine, because a truly enjoyable cup starts with proper storage.
Loose-Leaf Tea: Using a Pouch for Storage
Typically stored in a tea caddy, a resealable pouch can also be an excellent option for keeping your loose-leaf tea or herbal infusions fresh. The key is preserving the flavour and the qualities of your tea. Choosing a good storage pouch means choosing one that seals airtight.
There are several factors to keep in mind for proper tea storage in a pouch:
- Moisture: harmful to tea leaves. Be careful about storing tea in the fridge, and always seal your pouches tightly. Water and tea only get along when the water is piping hot, ready for a perfect infusion.
- Temperature: keep your pouches away from any source of heat, particularly well away from your cooking area.
- Light: pouches are a great storage option precisely because they block out light. Store them in a cupboard for best results.
- Odours: keep your loose-leaf pouches well away from coffee, chocolate, or spices. Even with an airtight seal, strong aromas can find their way in and affect your tea's flavour.
- The fridge: suitable only for green teas (including Matcha), yellow teas, or white teas, and always stored in an airtight pouch to guard against moisture and odours.
Loose-Leaf Tea: The Convenience of Pouch Storage
An airtight pouch is a reliable packaging choice for storing tea. When kept properly, tea can be enjoyed for up to two years after purchase. The best-before date is printed on the packaging. If you transfer your tea into different pouches, remember to note the date. Beyond that point, the tea remains safe to drink but gradually loses its character.
Using a pouch for storage is also very convenient day to day:
- With a heat-sealed resealable closure, your tea pouch can be opened and closed as many times as you like. Simply press out any excess air before resealing for the best results. If your pouch does not have this type of closure, a bag clip works just as well.
- Pouches take up very little space in your cupboard or fridge. They are also easy to take with you on holiday or to the office.
Pouches are particularly well suited for storing black teas such as Oolong. Green, white, and yellow teas are more delicate and require extra care. If an airtight seal is essential, look for pouches with a food-grade inner lining rather than a basic flexible bag. Your tea will keep better, and every cup will be all the more rewarding for it.
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