Frequently Asked Tea Questions
- How should I store my tea? Tea must be kept in an air-tight, dark, and dry environment to prevent it from absorbing moisture and odors, to prevent the loss of the tea's inherent flavor and aroma, and to prevent damage from light. Herbal teas are not damaged by light, so clear containers are fine for them, but real tea (i. e., camellia sinensis) must be kept in an opaque container. Ceramic or metal containers with tight fitting lids are great. Putting tea in the refrigerator or freezer is not recommended because the leaves may be damaged by very cold temperatures and may absorb moisture from condensation.
- How long will it stay fresh? While tea doesn't "go bad," it will eventually lose its flavor and/or aroma over time. Typcially, tea should last 6-12 months if stored as mentioned above. Green, white, and oolong teas generally last a shorter time, 6-9 months. Larger quantities of tea will stay fresher longer if stored in one big container. So if you buy a pound of one tea, don't separate it into a bundh of little tins. If you've got tea sitting around for a couple years, go ahead and taste it. It may be perfectly fine. If not, start over.
- How much tea should I buy at once? A 1-2 month supply is a good starting point for most people. If you are really set on one or two teas and you are confident you will continue to like them and drink them daily, you may get a year's supply at one time. One pound of tea makes roughly 200 cups, so that may give you an idea of how long that would last. If you buy much more than that, you risk it going stale or you may just tire of it.
- How should I get out these stains in my pot? Baking soda and elbow grease! Pour some baking soda and warm water in your pot and let it soak a while, even overnight. Then scrub it. The alkaline nature of the soda will help to dissovle the acidic tea stains without imparting any odd flavors into your pot. This is espcially important for ceramic pots because they tend to absorb flavors and odors.
- Does it matter what my teapot is made out of? Ultimately, it is personal preference. Here are some pros and cons to different materials:
- Glass is easy to keep clean, is dishwasher safe, looks beautiful, and you can watch your tea leaves as they brew. But it breaks more easily than some other materials and isn't for those who want a more old-fashioned style.
- Stainless steel is very sturdy, inexpensive, and dishwasher safe, but looks sort of plain. They are great for dorms or offices. Some claim to be able to taste the metal in the tea, although for most people this isn't an issue.
- Ceramics are more traditional and hold the heat better than glass or metal. But they stain and should not be put in the dishwasher, so cleaning is a bit more effort. They are also fragile, although bone china is actually stronger and less likely to chip than earthenware. With the wide variety of styles and colors to choose from in ceramics, almost everyone can find one they like.
Got more questions? Don't forget about our Tea 101 section on the site! You are also welcome to email me your questions.
Tea and Health News
People are sometimes concerned that tea, due to its caffeine content, might have a diuretic effect and therefore increase the likelihood of dehydration. A recent study examined the effects of tea consumption on hydration status in 13 mountain climbers at a Mount Everest base camp, at an altitude of roughly 16,000 feet. (Cold and high altitude both can contribute to dehydration.) The subjects were either given hot tea as a main source of fluids or tea was excluded. No other caffeine was allowed. There were no differences found in fluid intake, urine output, nor in any other markers of hydration status between the tea and no-tea groups. The only difference was that the tea group reported reduced fatigue. The effect of drinking tea at high altitude on hydration status and mood. Eur J Appl Physiol, February 11, 2004; .
Tea and Health News provided by: TheTeaTable.com
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