Green, yellow and matcha are best in the months after harvest; after a year they've usually lost their sparkle. Keep them airtight, dark and cool, and the fridge works for long storage if the pack stays sealed until it warms up.
Rolled oolongs and blacks keep well for a year or two. Roasted oolongs, white tea and pu-erh can change and improve with age, and want air-tight but not airless storage away from smells.
Steepbook shows how long ago a tea was harvested, and only warns about age for the types that fade.
More in Learn
- Leaf, heat and time
- Water temperature by tea
- Gongfu steeping
- Rinsing the leaf
- Water matters
- The families of tea
- Dialing in a new tea
- Tea glossary
Steepbook is a free app that remembers the steep that worked for each tea, teaware and brew style. Have a look if that sounds useful.