In general, the shelf life of black tea is commonly labeled as 3 years, some will also be labeled as 2 years, this according to the variety of tea, manufacturers process, packaging, will make a difference.

Black tea has a shelf life, but many manufacturers for the shelf life of black tea is not uniform. Because black tea is fermented tea, fermented tea is generally can be stored longer. But black tea and other teas have certain differences. At present, black tea is mainly Keemun black tea, Jinjunmei Zhengshan Xiaojiao, Yunnan Dianhong tea, etc. Relatively speaking, the shelf life of these black teas storage, shelf life are similar.

The use of self-sealing bags, kraft paper bags, such packaging of tea, there is a simple isolation of oxygen protection, but also can not be stored for a long period of time, generally can be stored for about 2 years. And the use of, regular composite kraft paper bags, tin cans, as long as placed properly, stored in a cool, dry place, generally stored for about 3 years without problems.

Black tea is not natural growth, but in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, made on the basis of green tea. It is suitable for the new teeth of the tea tree leaves as raw materials, by withering, kneading (cut), fermentation, drying and a series of processes refined tea, fermentation effect of the ingredients in the tea leaves to produce a chemical reaction to the water, not only the aroma of the people, but also showed a characteristic deep red color, so it is known as "black tea".

Shopping tips

1, hand grasp

First of all, use your hands to feel the weight, looseness and thickness of the black tea cords. High-quality black tea is relatively tight, heavy solid is good, thick send, light floating is bad. The main purpose of touching the tea leaves is to understand the dryness of black tea.

Take a strip of tea with your hand, the dry tea usually has a prickly feeling, easy to break, and rub your fingers hard into powder. If the tea is damp, it does not have this characteristic. However, when touching the tea, don't grab it to avoid the sweat on your hands seeping into the tea and causing it to be damp.

2, eye view

Grab a handful of dried tea on white paper or white porcelain plate, hold the plate with both hands to clockwise or counterclockwise rotation, observe whether the appearance of black tea dry tea is uniform, color and luster is consistent, and some need to look at whether it is with the golden hair. The one who has tight and clean stripes, no broken tea or less broken tea, and black and oily color (some tea will also show the golden hair) is superior.

Ribbons thick and loose, color and lustre messy, broken tea, powder tea, and even with tea seeds, tea fruit, old branches, old leaves, pests and leaves, weeds, twigs, metal objects, insects and other inclusions, such tea is considered as second-grade tea or poor quality tea.

Additionally, the color of the soup and the bottom of the leaves after brewing can also be identified. High-quality black tea soup color red, clear and bright, leaf bottom complete unfolding, uniform, soft and tender texture; second-grade tea and low-quality tea soup color is red thick slightly dark, turbid color, there is a moldy taste of low-quality tea shows the leaf bottom does not show, the color of the withered dark features.