Despite what you may think, your coffee and tea do have a shelf life. They can expire and you should know just how long to keep them so you can use them at their peak of freshness.
Coffee
Coffee is at its best when it is just roasted. That’s why most coffee roasting companies will get their coffee on its way to the customer within two days of roasting. That means it’s already roasted, packaged, and being shipped all within 48 hours of the beans being ready to use.But what consumers don’t realize often times is that coffee sits on store shelves for different periods of time. This will depend on how busy the store is and how often they rotate their stock. It’s a good idea to check for expiration dates before purchasing any type of coffee.
Ground coffee will stay fresh for 30 days once it is packaged. That means 30 days from when it left the plantation or packing facility where it was ground. That’s why it’s so important to check the expiration dates. By the time it gets to your store’s shelves, it may already be on its way to losing its freshness.
If you purchase whole beans, they will last a bit longer. You have some time because they haven’t been ground. But once you do grind the beans, grind only what you need for that one pot you’re making. Don’t grind the whole bag thinking it will save time. You’ll only start the clock ticking sooner towards expiration.
Somewhere along the line, urban legend took over and it seems everyone has started storing their coffee in the refrigerator or freezer. Despite what some might think, this actually is detrimental to preserving the coffee. Instead of keeping it fresh, the cold can cause condensation when the coffee is removed from the freezer or refrigerator. So just store it in an airtight container on the counter.
Tea
Tea is a delicate product. Even if you buy the most expensive brand and think you can save it forever, you can’t. All tea will eventually lose its flavor. But if you store it correctly, you will be able to use it and enjoy it before it ever goes stale.
Keep tea away from light, air, and moisture. An airtight container in a controlled environment (not a refrigerator or freezer which is too cold), like a countertop at room temperature, is the ideal way to store tea.
Resist the temptation to store tea in a pretty display container like you might get in coffee gift baskets, these might let sunlight at it. It will fade the leaves and take away the taste. Also refrain from leaving any container open to the air. It will simply dry the leaves out faster than you want. And don’t expose it to any moisture whatsoever before you brew it. Leaving tea in a humid or moist environment will result in mold and make the tea completely undrinkable.
So keep your tea in metal tins, covered and away from any heat or moisture. You’ll then have your tea for a good month or so. The same goes for tea bags or for loose tea. Once a tea has lost its flavor, there’s no getting it back. So don’t chance it. Store it in the recommended container for best results.
About The Author:
Barbara Petersen is a writer who enjoys talking about food, gifts, and family. You can see more of her work on the All About Gifts & Baskets Blog, hosted by http://www.aagiftsandbaskets.com.
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