Can we consume tea that has expired for months or even years?

Since the Covid pandemic, the French have had a craze around herbal teas or infusions, a trend which tends to be confirmed even today. Despite everything, the market is still dominated by tea. To sleep well, to combat stress or to recharge your batteries: hot drinks are on the rise. Many consumers like to vary their pleasures and sometimes keep their bags or loose tea beyond the date indicated on the package. But is it really serious? Do tea or other infusions expire? We answer it in this article.

It is often recommended to pay attention to expiry dates and for good reason, eating expired food can sometimes expose consumers to the risk of food poisoning. In reality, it depends on the products. Indeed, as explained the Allo Docteurs website, certain expired foods are more dangerous than others, such as poultry or eggs. Conversely, pasta or rice which are dry foods do not represent a risk when they are raw. The same goes for tea, which is a dry food that does not expire and therefore is not dangerous for your health.

Although it is advisable to consume the tea within two years of its manufacture, it can be consumed well after the date indicated on the packaging without problem. The website of the “Palais des thés” brand states: “No, tea does not expire”.

In fact, the mention “Best before” present on the package is only an indication. It is differentiated from a DLC, “use by date”, which represents an important recommendation for health. By exceeding the date on your tea packet, you do not incur any health risk, however, the product will lose quality. In order to make the most of its aromas, there is an optimal consumption period. “varying from a few months for early green teas to several decades for dark teas (or Pu Erh). Tea may lose taste due to its oxidation in contact with air in particular, but it will not become bad for your health”.

In order to keep your tea as long as possible, it is advisable to keep it in an opaque and airtight box, away from light, heat or humidity: all factors which can alter the quality of the tea. your tea: “The best solution for storing tea that will be consumed quickly is to keep it in its box. It can also be stored in its refill bag, as long as you expel the air from it before closing it with the zipper. Tea is particularly afraid of air, and in particular the oxygen it contains: upon contact, the components of the leaf (including the odorous molecules) continue to oxidize and transform.”

So now you know what you have left.