How to tell if your tea leaves are old and how to easily remake them

The color of tea leaves changes as they age.

Tea leaves oxidize over time and become stale. Oxygen in the air and light cause the components of the tea to change.

However, if the product is sealed in nitrogen gas packaging, oxidation is less likely to occur, and there will likely not be a significant change in quality even if the expiration date has passed a little.

However, if not stored properly, it may become outdated within a month or so.

To tell if tea is old, pay attention to four things: the luster and color of the tea leaves , the color of the water when brewed , and the aroma .

4 ways to tell if tea leaves are old

1. Are the tea leaves shiny? → Old tea leaves have lost their lustrous shine.
2. Has the color of the tea leaves changed? → Old tea leaves change from green to red.
3. Is there any change in the color of the tea? → Old tea has a reddish color.
4. Has there been any change in the smell? →It doesn't smell fragrant, but has a clearly altered smell.

First of all, fresh tea leaves are shiny and bright green.

However, as tea leaves get older, their green color changes to brown and they lose their luster due to exposure to humidity, moisture, and light.

Also, when brewing old tea, the color of the water may turn reddish due to changes in the amount of moisture contained in the tea leaves.

In addition, the aroma will change; the fragrant aroma of fresh tea leaves will be lost and the tea will start to smell spoiled.

These changes can help you determine if your tea has stale or not.

The secret to reviving old tea

I'm sure many of us have had the experience of carefully storing away the tea we were given, only to find that the expiration date had passed.

You may think that old tea is no longer drinkable, but in fact, it is a great waste to throw it away.

Old tea can be reused in a variety of ways if you use your imagination.

1. Hojicha Arrangement

For example, by dry-roasting the tea leaves, you can transform them into delicious, flavorful roasted green tea.

For those who find the process of roasting tea too troublesome, we have good news for you. You can actually make hojicha tea in the microwave.

Spread the tea leaves thinly on a heat-resistant plate and heat in a microwave (600W) for 45 seconds 2-3 times. If it doesn't seem to be heated enough, heat it again for shorter periods of time (no more than 45 seconds). Avoid heating continuously for more than 1 minute, as this may cause carbonization or fire.

2. Deodorizer for refrigerators and shoe cabinets

If you don't like the taste of roasted tea, try wrapping the roasted tea leaves in gauze or a towel and storing them in the refrigerator, shoebox, or wardrobe.

The antibacterial and deodorizing properties of tea will eliminate unpleasant odors. We also recommend placing it in the bathroom.

3. For bath additives and scalp care

In addition, the catechins contained in green tea have a strong antibacterial effect, so you can easily use this tea as a bath additive by floating a bag of tea leaves in the bathtub.

In addition, green tea extract has antioxidant, skin-beautifying, and deodorizing effects, so you can also use it as a head massage by soaking it in a basin and extracting the extract, then applying it to your scalp after shampooing.

In this way, instead of throwing away old tea, we can use it in various ways in our daily lives.

Tea used in a variety of products

In recent years, tea has come to be used not only as a drink, but also in a wide range of applications, including food, cosmetics, clothing, and building materials, due to its diverse functional properties.

In food, matcha is commonly found in cakes and ice cream, but the tea leaves and tea extracts are also used in a variety of foods as flavorings and concentrated extracts.

There are many foods that use tea, such as tea soba noodles, tea dumplings, and tea cookies.

Tea also has antibacterial and deodorizing properties, and is used in clothing and deodorants.

For example, tea is used in products that are familiar to us, such as tea-dyed sheets and towels, and tissue paper with deodorant.

Furthermore, in the field of building materials, various products have been developed, such as paints that use tea extracts and tatami mats with antibacterial properties.

Finally

In this way, tea has many possibilities to enrich our lives.

Don't let your old tea go to waste, try these tips out and see how you can use it.

Knowing how tea is integrated into our lives can make drinking tea even more enjoyable.