Golden consumption periods of different teas
Different categories of teas are quite different with regard to their ‘golden period’ of consumption.
Green teas and yellow teas
For green teas and yellow teas, the fresher they are the better their quality. Premium green teas and yellow teas are normally consumed within the 12 months of their production. They are still OK if packaged and stored under optimal condition for another 12 months but deteriorate rather fast after.
White teas
White teas are either consumed fresh or aged purposely for their medicinal properties. The white teas made of young and tender tip tea leaves, such as Silver Needle and White Peony are mostly consumed fresh. The white teas made of mature tea leaves, such as Shou-Mei, are more like to be aged purposely as loose or cakes into aged white teas. (more information about aged white tea at: )
Oolong teas
Heavily roasted Oolong teas, such as Wuyi Rock teas and Feng Huang Dan Cong (Phoenix Single Bush), and traditionally processed Taiwan Oolongs are consumed fresh, but do not deteriorate as fast as green teas or Yellow teas with time. For example, 24 months is a reasonable consumption period, even Ok up to 36 months.
The light roasted Oolong teas, such as Tie Guan Yin (Iron Buddha) are quite sensitive to both temperature and time just like green teas and yellow teas. They are expected to be consumed within the 12 months of their production unless specially treated, such as charcoal baked and repeatedly roasted to produce special aged Oolong.
Black teas
Similar to highly roasted Oolong teas, most of the black teas are consumed fresh. Due to their fully fermented nature, their quality however does not deteriorate as fast as the unfermented green teas.
Pu-erh teas and Hei Cha
Pu-erh teas and Hei Cha are post fermented teas. They continue their fermentation after their production - the crucial difference from the black teas. Theoretically, the more the Pu-erh tea and Hei-Cha are aged, they more their quality improves. This is however not indefinite. Like all products made of plants, Camellia Sinensis in the case of teas, there is a life peak.
For example, there are some Pu-erh teas discovered in the storage of the Forbidden City of china, which are over 100 years of age. They are more considered as antique than tea. Samples have been taken for tasting with results suggesting that the flavours of the original premium Pu-erh are not more. There is suggestion that 30 year is probable the ‘golden period’ for Pu-erh and Hei Cha and the quality will start deteriorating after.
Please note, premium teas are very delicate products and all teas have their packaging and storage requirements. The above recommended consumption periods are based on adequate packaging and storage. Inadequate packaging or storage can cause teas being damaged in no time.
