Dieter Folz wrote:

> Sam Strano > wrote in message >. ..
>
>>Does tea go stale, and if it does how long does it take?
>
>
> Depends on the tea, e.g. a fresh Darjeeling first flush lasts for 8 to
> 12 month (the more fruity and the more "oolongish" the shorter the
> period), a Darjeeling Inbetween lasts for 4 to 6 month (also mostly a
> question of the fleeting "fruity" character), in contrast a Darjeeling
> second flush lasts up to six years!
>
> Dieter

I've often wondered about this.

Seven years ago I had a friend who traveled to India bring back a
*large* can of Runglee Rungliot Darjeeling loose leaf tea for me. It
stayed in my cupboard for four years before I opened it, because I
wasn't drinking loose leaf tea at the time. It was in a sealed plastic
bag inside the can.

I started using it a few years ago and am still enjoying it. I've tried
fresher black teas and can tell that there's a difference, but I figured
I'd just keep going with it as long as I liked it. At the current rate,
this study looks like it will go on for another 3 - 4 years! :-)

-dreq