Can You Actually Drink Expired Tea Bags?

Discovering products in your kitchen that have passed their expiration date is almost always disappointing and usually demands that the item be thrown away. Still, expiration dates don't always mean what you think. Some things that have passed their prime are perfectly safe to consume, although they may not live up to the flavor potential they once had. If you have ever wondered if those expired tea bags in the back of your pantry are salvageable for a comforting drink, the good news is they usually are. The bad news is that they won't taste as pleasant as they could have weeks prior.

Tea has a long shelf life — up to two years in some cases. However, the exact timeframe you have to drink it depends on variety. Strong black teas are typically good for two years after being produced, but a floral chamomile will lose its luster in roughly three months. Fruit-infused blends tend to retain their potent aroma for about six months, whereas a white bai hao lasts for approximately one year.

While you can drink expired tea, it will be noticeably dull, lacking the vibrance you are probably looking for in your beverage. Alternate uses for tea — like using it to boost the flavor of your next hot toddy or making tasty Earl Grey cookies — might not get you the result you are looking for, either. However, properly storing tea will help keep it at its best for lengthier periods of time.

Like many other pantry staples, tea doesn't do well when it's in regular contact with heat, sunlight, or moisture. It will stay fresher longer when stored in a cool, dry environment, preferably in an airtight storage container that can keep it from absorbing ambient odors. However, before you reach for your trusty Tupperware, it is worth noting that plastic will take on the aroma of any tea bags you place inside, making your next cup of oolong taste like your previous batch of black tea stored in the same vessel.

When it comes to storing green tea, you may want to take advantage of your refrigerator. You still ought to use an airtight container to prevent odor absorption, but the fridge can work well to inhibit tender green teas like gyokuro and matcha from losing flavor too quickly (again, assuming you guard against moisture buildup and use an airtight container). Matcha will lose its green allure in about a year, so you surely want to do anything you can to keep it from becoming a brownish off-green remnant of its previously vibrant self. It can still be used for your afternoon tea, but the drink likely won't taste anything like it once did.