Tea, as the national drink of China, has a long history and a wide variety. Many tea lovers will store some favorite tea leaves at home in case they need them. However, with the passage of time, the issue of tea preservation has gradually become the focus of attention. Can the black tea, green tea, and Pu'er tea that have been kept at home for a few years still be brewed and drunk? This article will reveal the preservation of tea at home from three aspects, and help you store and enjoy tea properly.1. Changes in the shelf life and quality of tea1. The concept of shelf life.
Shelf life refers to the period of time during which food retains its unique quality and meets the requirements for consumption under specified storage conditions. For tea, the shelf life usually refers to the time that the tea can maintain its original quality characteristics under certain conditions.
2. Changes in the quality of tea.
During the storage process, tea will be affected by various factors such as oxygen, light, humidity, temperature, etc., resulting in a series of chemical changes. These changes may lead to changes in the color, aroma, and taste of the tea, affecting the quality of the tea.
1) Black tea: Black tea is a fully fermented tea, and its quality changes relatively slowly. However, black tea that has been stored for a long time may have a weakened aroma and a weakened taste. In addition, black tea can also become damp and moldy if not stored properly.
2) Green tea: Green tea is an unfermented tea, and its quality changes rapidly. Green tea that has been stored for a long time is prone to dark yellow color, disappearing aroma, and bitter taste. As a result, green tea has a comparatively shorter shelf life.
3) Pu'er tea: Pu'er tea is a post-fermented tea, and its quality change is unique. Under the right conditions, Pu-erh tea can be stored for a long time and gradually aged, forming a unique aged aroma. However, if it is not stored properly, Pu-erh tea can also become moldy and deteriorate.
Second, the preservation method of tea at home
1. Avoid moisture.
Tea leaves are highly hygroscopic, so they should be kept in a humid environment. It is recommended to store the tea leaves in a dry, ventilated place and use a well-sealed container for preservation. For tea leaves that have been opened, some desiccant (such as silica gel, quicklime, etc.) can be placed inside the container to absorb moisture.
2. Avoid high temperature and light.
High temperature and light will accelerate the quality change of tea leaves, resulting in the deterioration of tea leaves. Therefore, tea should be kept away from direct sunlight and high temperature environments. It is recommended to store the tea leaves in a cool, dark place, such as a wardrobe, bookcase, etc.
3. Avoid odor pollution.
Tea has strong adsorption and easily absorbs surrounding odors. Therefore, tea leaves should be kept away with items with odors. It is recommended to use a special tea caddy or sealed bag for storage, and make sure that there is no odor inside the container before storage.
3. How to judge whether aged tea can be brewed
1. Observe the appearance.
First of all, observe whether the appearance of the tea is neat and whether the color is normal. If the surface of the tea is moldy, blackened, or other abnormal colors appear, it means that the tea has deteriorated and should not be brewed again.
2. Smell the aroma.
Smelling the aroma of tea is an important means of judging its quality. If the aroma of tea weakens or disappears, or even has musty, stale and other peculiar smells, it means that the quality of tea has been damaged and should not be brewed again.
3. Taste the taste.
The quality of the tea can be further judged by tasting its taste. If the taste of the tea becomes light, bitter or other abnormal taste, it means that the quality of the tea is not good and it should not be brewed again.
To sum up, whether the black tea, green tea, and Pu'er tea stored at home can be brewed depends on their preservation and quality changes. In order to ensure the quality and safety of tea, it is recommended that tea lovers pay attention to check the shelf life and production date and other information when buying tea, and store and drink it reasonably. At the same time, for tea leaves that have been stored for a long time, you can judge whether they can be brewed by observing the appearance, smelling the aroma and tasting the taste. I hope this article can help tea lovers better understand and master the preservation of tea at home. List of high-quality authors