Tea is sensitive to air, light, aromas, humidity, and heat; its quality diminishes if it is subjected to any of these conditions. As a result, it is very important to properly store your tea so that the quality and desired characteristics are preserved. Keep these tips in mind to keep your tea fresh:

• Store tea at room temperature, away from any direct sunlight and heat sources.
• Store tea in an opaque, airtight package; only store your tea in see-through packaging if the packaging has a UV coating. For tea stored in zip-top bags, push out as much air as possible before sealing it.
• Store tea away from any products that have strong aromas. If your tea is not stored in an airtight package, then it may pick up these other aromas. This also includes storing tea near other flavored or scented teas.
• Do not store your tea in the refrigerator, unless the package directions indicate it is ok.
• Be sure that any utensils used to scoop your tea are completely dry. Any moisture transferred into the package can damage tea.
• Ideally, buy tea in quantities that can be consumed within a few months of opening; however, many teas will retain their quality and characteristics for up to two years.

Note: When buying tea, make sure to buy from retailers who properly store the tea they sell. Even though it is popular for retailers to store their tea in glass jars or large storage tins from which they allow you to see and smell the tea, it is not recommended that you buy tea that has been stored in this manner. Using this practice to store tea affects the quality of the tea and its cleanliness. After three months of exposure to light, the antioxidants, essential oils, and other healthful compounds in the tea break down, resulting in an infusion that lacks the beneficial effects for which you may be drinking it.