I just bought a box of Puttabong Darjeeling FTGFOP-1 first flush.
That's from last year, of course. The box says it's best before
November 2005. Ain't that a bit optimistic view?

(P.A.Saarinen) wrote in message . com>...
> I just bought a box of Puttabong Darjeeling FTGFOP-1 first flush.
> That's from last year, of course. The box says it's best before
> November 2005. Ain't that a bit optimistic view?

Hi!

If it's a closed, even sealed box and you keep the tea at a dry, cool,
odour-free place (so better don't keep it in your kitchen), it
shouldn't be a problem. Tea, properly stored, keeps fresh for a long
period, because it doesnt't contain oils (like coffee does) which
could become rancid. This could happen to flavoured tea, of course
(e.g. real Earl Grey, flavoured with natural bergamotte oil), because
the aetheric oils can become rancid though. So, this is the reason,
why some tea brands use flavourings. But pure tea is no problem.


Dieter

Most commercial teas I've seen will give an ending date of one year
from packaging. This is a way to tell how old it is on the store
shelf. I have commercial teas with ending dates several years old
which are stored in a cool,dry,dark basement. Most of the discount
teas you see are past expiration date. I'll purchase if not more than
one year past expiration. One test if you can smell the tea it is
probably stale.

Jim

(P.A.Saarinen) wrote in message . com>...
> I just bought a box of Puttabong Darjeeling FTGFOP-1 first flush.
> That's from last year, of course. The box says it's best before
> November 2005. Ain't that a bit optimistic view?

Space 1/28/04


> Most commercial teas I've seen will give an ending date of one year
> from packaging. This is a way to tell how old it is on the store
> shelf. I have commercial teas with ending dates several years old
> which are stored in a cool,dry,dark basement. Most of the discount
> teas you see are past expiration date. I'll purchase if not more than
> one year past expiration. One test if you can smell the tea it is
> probably stale.
>
> Jim

Jim, I suspect that *wasn't* a typo, but wouldn't staleness be indicated by
the fact that you *can't* smell the tea? Or do you mean that it got moist
and admitted some of its aroma, signaling badness?

I found a Darjeeling on an Indian grocery store shelf recently dated from
the early 90's -- ten years ago. Think it's stale? I'd say pass it by.
Wasn't even discounted.

I guess I'm a little more conservative and, going with the commonly held
belief that teas loose their savor slowly but constantly, would probably
pass up a tea over a year old. But, then many vendors are offering their
2002 winters and springs even now. So, who's to know.

Michael

Michael

"P.A.Saarinen" > wrote in message
om...
> I just bought a box of Puttabong Darjeeling FTGFOP-1 first
flush.
> That's from last year, of course. The box says it's best
before
> November 2005. Ain't that a bit optimistic view?

In speciality shops over here they sell teas labeled as
Darjeeling This Year's First Flush through the summer and autumn
at a very high price. The rest of the year they sell a
Darjeeling First Flush specified as *not* being this year's (but
they don't specify whether it's one year old or more). This tea
is clearly stale, which you can clearly see from what is usually
green leaves having turned much darker. To be fair, this tea is
sold at a much lower price, but it's really not worth the cost
at all.

Jon

You're right it wasn't a typo. Stale tea will still produce an aroma
however faint. If you can smell any aroma from packaging it has been
exposed to the elements. It is more noticeable if you shake the
package to expose the subsurface tea. My idea of freshness is
expiration date and sealed packaging. The British and Arabic labels
are the best and Indian and Russian labels are the worse as a general
rule of thumb. I don't have problems buying commercial tea and
storing as I suggested. I've got good sealed commercial tins
approaching five years old. I can never be certain they will taste
like new but some are my favorites and I know the taste. As I said
before everyone should have a stash of bunker tea. I'm always
prepared for a tea trade war.

Jim

Michael Plant > wrote in message >...
> Space 1/28/04
>
>
> > Most commercial teas I've seen will give an ending date of one year
> > from packaging. This is a way to tell how old it is on the store
> > shelf. I have commercial teas with ending dates several years old
> > which are stored in a cool,dry,dark basement. Most of the discount
> > teas you see are past expiration date. I'll purchase if not more than
> > one year past expiration. One test if you can smell the tea it is
> > probably stale.
> >
> > Jim
>
> Jim, I suspect that *wasn't* a typo, but wouldn't staleness be indicated by
> the fact that you *can't* smell the tea? Or do you mean that it got moist
> and admitted some of its aroma, signaling badness?
>
> I found a Darjeeling on an Indian grocery store shelf recently dated from
> the early 90's -- ten years ago. Think it's stale? I'd say pass it by.
> Wasn't even discounted.
>
> I guess I'm a little more conservative and, going with the commonly held
> belief that teas loose their savor slowly but constantly, would probably
> pass up a tea over a year old. But, then many vendors are offering their
> 2002 winters and springs even now. So, who's to know.
>
> Michael