Storing Japanese Tea

Japanese tea is delicate. Proper storage is essential to preserve its aroma, color, and flavor.

The One-Minute Storage Guide

Tea Type Best Storage
Matcha Refrigerator (airtight container)
Sencha / Gyokuro Refrigerator (airtight container)
Hojicha Room temperature (airtight container)
Japanese Black Tea (Wakōcha) Room temperature (airtight container)

Why Japanese Green Tea Needs Special Care

Japanese tea is a non-oxidized tea, which means its quality can degrade significantly if not stored properly. Special care is needed to preserve it well. Exposure to the following will quickly degrade quality:

  • Oxygen
  • Humidity
  • Heat and temperature changes
  • Light
  • Strong surrounding odors

Tea easily absorbs odors from other foods, so always store tea in an airtight container, so it does not smell like your leftovers!

You should be able to tell if your tea has oxidized or is not being store properly. In particular, matcha tends to lose its vivid green color, while sencha can turn reddish or brown. In both cases, improperly stored tea will often start gaining a flat or stale aroma.

Proper Japanese tea storage

Oxygen Is the Real Enemy

High-quality Japanese tea is packaged to minimize oxygen exposure. This is often done using:

  • Nitrogen flushing
  • Oxygen absorbers

Sometimes, cafés display Japanese tea in transparent glass jars for aesthetic reasons, but while it may look stylish, this kind of storage is not suitable for long-term preservation.

Using the Refrigerator Correctly

For long-term storage, refrigeration is recommended for Japanese green teas. However, watch out for condensation! You should let the package fully return to room temperature before opening it.

Why let the package come back to room temperature?
Condensation caused by the temperature difference could moisten the tea leaves and ruin your tea.

Teas That Should NOT Be Refrigerated

Not all Japanese teas benefit from cold storage. Fully oxidized or roasted teas are more stable, but also more sensitive to moisture.

  • Hojicha (roasted green tea)
  • Japanese black tea (wakōcha)

These teas should be stored at room temperature, in an airtight container, away from heat and humidity.

How Long Does Japanese Tea Last?

Tea leaves only contain around 5% moisture, so they do not truly spoil. However, their quality slowly declines over time.

  • Unopened, oxygen-protected tea can keep for over one year
  • Once opened, consume within a couple months
  • Matcha oxidizes quickly and should be consumed sooner

 

For a more visual explanation on how to store your Japanese teas, watch this video: 

Storing Japanese Tea