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 Storing tea
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Tea easily absorbs moisture and smells, it easily absorbs the
water and bad smells in the air, if the method of storage is incorrect, it will
lose its flavor in a short period of time, the more lightly fermented and
expensive the tea, the harder it is to store. Usually after tea is stored for a
while, the aroma, the tea soup color, the flavor, and the tea color will
change, the new tea flavor will disappear and it will taste aged. |
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The
economic contributions that tea has on the humanities history of
Taiwan
cannot
be ignored.
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The
beautiful tea flower.
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Generally families that buy tea will buy tea in containers or loose
tea. Because it is not all brewed at one time, the problem with storage will
arise, we recommend a few methods for families to store tea: |
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 Plastic bags or aluminum bags:
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It is better to choose a plastic bag with closures that are
made to store food that is made out of thicker material with higher density, do
not use plastic bags that have smells or are reproduced. After placing the tea
in the bag, the air should be pushed out, it is even better if another plastic
bag can be used to wrap a second layer around the tea. Tea that is stored in a
clear plastic bag should not be placed directly in the sun. If aluminum bags
are used instead, then the principles for storing are the same as plastic bags.
Also, packaging the tea into smaller portions, sealing it and placing it in the
refrigerator, and then brewing the packages separately can decrease the chances
of the tea being exposed to air, and will maintain the tea quality for a longer
period of time.
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Metal containers: |
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Metal containers, stainless steel containers or densely
textured tin cans can all be used to contain tea. If it is a new container, or
a container that has been used to place other items with other odors, a method
to get rid of odors is to place a little tea inside the container, the lid can
be closed, the container can be shaken and the tea can then be poured out in
order to get rid of the odor. There are currently stainless steel tea
containers with two-tiered lids available on the market, they are convenient
and practical, it is even better if they can be combined with a clean plastic
bag to place the tea in, and the lids can be taped shut after being closed. The
metal container that contains the tea leaves should be placed in a cool and
shady place, and not put directly in the sun, or in a smelly, humid, or hot
place. This can prevent the steel container from rusting, it can also reduce
the speed of the tea leaves aging or going bad. Also the dense material of the
tin containers has good results against moisture, oxidation, light, and odor. |
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Low temperature: |
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When storing tea within 6 months, refrigerating it in
temperatures between 0-5 degrees Celsius is the most cost-effective; when
storing it for over 6 months, refrigerating (-10 to -18 degrees Celsius) is
better. It is better if a designated refrigerator (freezer) is used to store
the tea, if it must be stored with other foods, then the tea leaves need to be
wrapped well and totally enclosed to prevent odor absorption. When purchasing a
large amount of tea at once, it should be wrapped in individual small packages
(containers), and then placed in the freezer or refrigerator. When brewing tea
only the amount needed should be taken out; it is not good to take out the same
bag of tea and continuously allow it to freeze and thaw. When removing the tea leaves
from the refrigerator (freezer), the tea leaves in the tea container should be
allowed to return to room temperature before being removed; otherwise if the
tea container is suddenly opened, the tea leaves will easily condense water
vapor which will increase the amount of moisture, causing the unused leaves to
deteriorate even more quickly. |
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Storing tea for long periods of
time: |
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The only way to store tea for long periods of time is to
control the moisture level around 3-5%, the roasting and dryness level is a key
factor in storing tea. Generally speaking, if the tea is roasted more heavily,
and the moisture level is low, it can be stored for a longer period of time. When
the best time for brewing the tea has been exceeded, the tea should be taken
out and roasted again. An electric pot can be used, the pot should be cleaned
until it is odor-free, the tea leaves can be poured onto a porcelain plate or
on foil and placed in the electric pot, the power can be put on the “heat
maintenance level,” the lid should be placed half on, and the tea can be
shifted at suitable times. After half a day, the tea will go from having an
aged-old smell to having a clear roasted aroma, it is best if the tea has
reached the condition where it can be crushed with the index finger and thumb;
it can be restored after it cools. The most reliable method is to take valuable
collector tea to a professional tea master or tea farmer and ask them to re-roast
it for you. |
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Taking
notes after discussions.
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The guide
gives us detailed information regarding the tea growing environment.
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