Speaking of tea, a silly question-- does it go bad? Or just stale?

[TreasonousBastard]

Cleaning out some cabinets I found a few boxes of tea that said "Best by..." two or three years ago.

Tasted a little stale, but is the date simply bureaucratic silliness or does the stuff really go stale? And how long does it actually take?

[elleng]

1. NO, according to my tea expert,

Pakistani friend.

[northoftheborder]

2. I don't think it goes "bad"

that is, not dangerous to drink. But it does gradually lose it's flavor. I have some that is old and it really does just taste kind of flavorless.

Some brands are fresher than others to start with. I think whole leaf tea lasts longer than tea bags.

[Yonnie3]

3. I think it depends on the packaging.

First off, if has been kept dry it shouldn't go bad (make you sick).

I've used years out of date tea bags that were sealed in plastic envelopes and they tasted fine.

I tossed out Red Rose teabags which were in an opened box left in the cabin for years. It tasted so terrible I spit it out. I think they had absorbed cooking vapors as well as wood stove and tobacco smoke.

[hlthe2b]

4. the plant based flavinoids and antioxidants that make tea healthy are lost with time

and with it, flavor, but when kept in air-tight, opaque containers, the loss is less. Certainly won't hurt you.

[niyad]

5. you can always use them to dye eggs.

[Warpy]

6. Depends on how it's stored

If it's in a tightly sealed tin box, it can last quite a long time. Cardboard and cellophane allow the aromatics to dissipate over time, making that lovely, flowery tea dissipate into floor sweepings.

It's drinkable, it's just not very good when it's old and poorly stored.

[MyNameGoesHere]

7. My tea usually starts at 5 or more years old

Love this Tea. Not for those who like light teas. It's full and bold

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pu'er_tea