Maybe you started a warm cup of tea too late at night. You know it’s going to keep you up if you drink it, but it’s so good! You can’t just let it go to waste! You can save it for the morning, but does tea need to be refrigerated?
The good news is that you can store your cup of tea in the fridge overnight. For hot-brewed tea, it is recommended that you don’t keep your tea in the fridge more than 8 hours. If you’re going for an iced tea, you’re good! Pull it out, maybe pour it over some ice, and enjoy. Need some great recipes for delicious iced tea blends and beverages? Try some of the iced tea recipes on our blog! If you want to enjoy that cozy hot-tea feeling all over again, reheat it on the stove.
You may be wondering, how does tea need to be refrigerated? There are a few things you want to keep in mind before storing your tea in the fridge. First of all, it is important to note that we are ONLY talking about brewed tea here. Putting loose tea in the fridge or freezer is the fastest way to ruin your leaves, as the moisture will destroy it before you can even get to it.
Second, the refrigerator is notorious for creating flavor pairings that won’t be winning awards for culinary excellence anytime soon. In short, be careful about flavor and aroma seepage when you store your tea in the fridge. Leaving an open cup of tea overnight may result in some unique and not-too-appetizing new tea blends, like garlic and mango, or lavender and leftover take-out. Be sure to cover your tea with a lid or wrap when you leave it in the fridge.
Also, if you’ve added extras like sweeteners or fruit to your tea, it will go bad faster. Fruit and sugars will start to ferment after a while, so mentally adjust your tea’s expiration date accordingly. When saving your steeped tea leaves in the fridge, be sure to keep them out of your cup, otherwise your tea will get too strong and bitter. While tea steeps slowly in cold water, the steeping process is still taking place.
The refrigerator is a wonderful invention, and it can be used to store your tea overnight so that it doesn’t grow any nasty bacteria. If you’re making iced tea, your brew can last up to a few days in the fridge. Also, if you have a tea that’s good for re-steeping, like Pu Erh, you can save it in the fridge to keep it fresh until your next steeping (just remember to keep it covered to avoid flavor seepage!).
If you’re looking for a blend that’s just meant to be iced, try our teas that are great brewed cold. Just remember to take it out of the fridge sooner rather than later, as fresh tea is always the best tea.
