How to store green tea and matcha so they keep their flavour
Light, oxygen, moisture and smells: how to protect loose-leaf tea and matcha, whether to keep them in the fridge and how long they keep their flavour.
1 min read, 14 October 2026
Tea has four enemies: light, oxygen, moisture and other smells. Green teas and matcha are the most sensitive to them, because their aroma is delicate and their colour fades quickly.
The rules
- An airtight pack. A resealable bag you squeeze the air out of, or a tin with a well-fitting lid.
- A dark place. Don't keep tea in a glass jar on the worktop, however nice it looks.
- Away from spices, coffee and the cooker. Leaves soak up smells like a sponge.
- A steady, low temperature. A cupboard away from the oven is better than a shelf above the kettle.
The fridge: yes or no?
For opened matcha, yes: a tightly closed tin in the fridge keeps its colour and flavour for longer. Before opening it, wait until the tin has warmed to room temperature, otherwise moisture will condense on the cold powder. Loose-leaf tea doesn't need to go in the fridge; an airtight pack matters more.
How long tea keeps its flavour
- Green loose-leaf teas and matcha: best within 12 months of the harvest, and within 2–3 months of opening. Use matcha within 6–8 weeks of opening.
- White teas, oolongs and black teas: up to 24 months. Some white teas and more heavily roasted oolongs even improve with time.
That's why our packs show the harvest date: you know how many months old the tea is. You can read more about why this matters to us in the story of the name nagori.
