If you have stumbled upon a long-forgotten box of tea bags while cleaning your pantry, you might be wondering if it is still safe to consume them.
One way to determine if expired tea is still drinkable is by brewing a cup and evaluating its taste.
As long as there is no mold, drinking tea past its expiration date will not harm your health, but the taste may become less intense and dull. It is safe to consume expired tea, but it may not be as enjoyable. Before drinking expired tea, check for any signs of mold.
Here are some useful suggestions on how to preserve the rich flavor of your tea and prevent consuming expired or spoiled tea.
Indeed, no one desires to consume a steaming cup of tea anticipating a pleasant flowery taste only to be left with a bland and insipid flavor in their mouth.
Is It Safe To Drink Expired Tea?
Drinking expired or old tea is generally safe, although the taste may not be as strong and enjoyable as before, and it might feel a bit flat on your tongue.
If you happen to notice visible mold growth on your tea, it is advisable to discard the bags and avoid consuming them, although such cases are infrequent and uncommon.
Although not always causing sickness, mold should be avoided on expired tea and other perishable foods as it can result in an unpleasant taste and potentially cause symptoms like nausea and shortness of breath.
When examining your tea, attempt to determine the best-by date. If your tea has been expired for a few weeks or even a few months, you may not perceive any noticeable variation in flavor.
Nonetheless, after a couple of years have passed the expiration date, you will undoubtedly detect a decrease in taste and richness when consuming your hot cup of tea.
After being stored for an extended period, you might observe a change in color and possible darkening of the tea leaves.
It is not always necessary to throw out a box of expired tea immediately, as you can try making a cup and tasting it before getting rid of the entire box.
What Can Happen If You Drink Tea That’s Gone Bad?
Initially, it is essential to distinguish between the expiration of a product and its spoilage. In this scenario, spoilage pertains to tea that has visibly decomposed and is no longer suitable for consumption.
When you observe mold spores on the tea leaves, it indicates that the tea has exceeded its optimal freshness and is now considered spoiled.
Consuming mold can lead to fever and require medical attention, although sometimes ingesting a small amount of mold or spoiled food may not cause any harm.
There are times when consuming expired food or drinks can result in food poisoning or various gastrointestinal problems that may require rest and hydration to recover from, but seeking professional guidance and care from a doctor is recommended.
Tea bags that are prepackaged and sold in grocery stores globally have a long shelf life, hence if there are any noticeable signs of decay, it is probable that they have been stored for an extended period.
Before opening a box that has been forgotten for a long time in the back corner of your pantry, it is advisable to conduct a visual inspection.
How Can You Tell If Tea Bags Have Spoiled?
The scent of tea can be soothing for many individuals, depending on the type they buy. When brewing a new cup of Earl Grey or herbal tea, the aroma spreads a sense of relaxation throughout the space.
If you detect a strong, pungent smell that is noticeably different from the usual aroma of the tea, it is a clear sign that the tea has gone bad and needs to be discarded and replaced.
If moisture comes into contact with tea bags, they can develop a musty odor and even grow mold.
If your tea bags have lost their aroma and taste, it indicates that they have exceeded their best-by date, which some individuals may consider as spoiled.
People who drink tea on a regular basis can enjoy the many advantages it offers, such as the polyphenols found in herbal varieties.
If you detect a change in the taste of your tea, it is probable that the antioxidant content has decreased.
How Long Can Tea Bags Be Stored?
The duration for which tea bags can last depends on the storage method you opt for. If stored in the pantry, they can retain their taste and aroma for a few years, but if it’s a delicate tea with loose leaves, the shelf life may be shorter.
Once the expiration date has passed, some tea bags can still be consumed for an additional 6-12 months. To decide whether it is still suitable for consumption or if a new one is necessary, you should visually examine and taste the tea.
To maintain the freshness of your tea, it is recommended to store it in an airtight container and keep it in a cool, dark place. Unless there are extreme weather conditions that could cause the tea to become too hot or wet, there is no need to be concerned about its potency diminishing.
As long as you keep tea bags in their original box and don’t expose them to air, they can retain their flavor for up to 9 months.
Unless you possess a discerning palate for tea and can distinguish between different flavor profiles, it is unlikely that you will detect any significant changes in taste when consuming expired tea.
If you wish to avoid your tea from going bad, the most effective approach is to consume it before it gets to that stage. However, if you want to keep it for an extended period or combine different flavors over a few months, there are some useful suggestions for storing your purchase.
To prevent mold growth in tea bags, it is crucial to keep them away from moisture. Many households prefer storing them in a cool and dry place like a pantry. As soon as the tea leaves come in contact with moisture, mold can quickly develop.
It is advisable to keep loose tea bags in a sealed container, like a plastic bag, to avoid moisture and maintain their optimal freshness.
Expired tea can result in bland cups of tea as the scent and flavor may not be present.
If you want to store your tea for a longer duration, freezing them is a viable option as the low temperature halts the degradation of the leaves and puts a stop to the process.
Although it is not a permanent fix, this method provides a more extended solution compared to storing tea in the pantry.
Assuming you consume tea frequently, there is no need to be concerned about keeping it for an extended period. Within a month, a pack of tea can be consumed by having one or two cups daily. You can leave your tea bags on the countertop without worrying about them deteriorating too rapidly.
You can also check this video about “Can You Really Drink Expired Tea?”
