Dear all,

Maybe someone can help me with this one, since I do not seem to be
able to find any information on the internet on this.

Not so long ago, I found some old tea in my cupboard. It was already
there for a few years, so I thought about throwing it away. Luckily I
didn't because it turned out to be very nice tea: nice and round,
slightly sweet with a very rounded off character, not bitter but with
clear body.
After finishing the package (it was Pickwick Orange Pekoe loose leaf
tea) I went to the store to buy me a new one, only to find that the
quality was not the same. Since it was stored in a wooden box I first
thought that it might have taken up some of the wood flavour or that
the blend of the manufacturer had changed.
Recently, however, the same thing happened with an old package of
Livingstone tea ('Sources from the nile') this time stored in an
aluminium pouch which was well closed. The same excellent rounded off,
slightly woody and sweet flavour.
Now I am wondering: is it this special blend (I do not seem to be able
to get it anywhere here in Holland (tips would be welcome!) - an aunt
brought it from Kenya) or the fact that is also a few years (4+) old?
Since I cannot get it here I cannot rush out to the store and compare!
Ordering it from internet is very expensive (UK is the closest;
shipping fees are very high) and might give a disappointing result.

So my question: does anyone know about this effect? And if so, is
there a way to speed it up? I am willing to store some tea for a few
years, but if it works, then I would have wished storing a lot more.
On the other hand, if it doesn't, storing a few kilograms seems a big
waste!!!

Any information would be *HIGHLY* appreciated!!!

Many thanks in advance!

Frans Jos Jansen

(P.S. I know storing First Flush Darjeeling etc. will have a
detrimental effect on the quality etc.: this is really about rather
average teas turning into something special that I have not found so
far in the 30+ loose teas I bought looking for the same aroma....! (I
have discovered many other exciting flavours though, so it was well
worth it...))