Mastering Matcha Storage: Keeping Japanese Green Tea Fresh

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5 Essential Rules for How to Store Green Tea and Matcha

Matcha, an ancient Japanese green tea, has become widespread due to its countless health benefits, antioxidant properties, and similar-to-coffee caffeine content. Before you run to the store and stock up on this vibrant green powder, however, you must know how to care for it.

Matcha is delicate, like a newborn baby. You simply cannot leave an open jar of matcha powder on your kitchen counter; when exposed to elements such as heat and air, matcha will lose its flavor, freshness, and antioxidants within days.

Read on to learn how to store matcha the proper way to ensure that you get the most out of this ancient elixir.

Rule #1: Oxygen Robs Matcha Tea of Life-Preserving Catechins and Vitamins

Catechins are a type of antioxidant found in matcha tea. In fact, this is probably one of the reasons you began drinking matcha in the first place—you heard of its abundant health benefits. However, you must take proper care of your tea to ensure that it retains those benefits.

Matcha tea’s number-one threat is oxygen. Oxidation deteriorates the tea’s nutrients, such as catechins and vitamins. Therefore, your matcha must be stored in an airtight container.

There are many airtight containers on the market, many of them created specifically for tea storage. Make sure not to store your tea in a simple Ziploc bag or plastic kitchen container, however, because your matcha will still be exposed to the air that’s inside the container, and thus, it will oxidize.

You need a container that squeezes the air out, leaving the tea in a vacuum. One strategy is to put matcha into a Ziploc bag, squeeze all of the air out, and then store that bag inside a matcha-specific airtight container such as the Yuzen Washi Japanese Tea Canister. Keep reading for more top-notch, oxygen-proof storage options.

Yuzen Washi Japanese Tea Canister for Matcha Powder and Loose Leaf Tea

Rule #2: Storing in the Fridge Prevents Heat Damage, but it may Make your Tea Taste Funny.

You may also know that heat and humidity can turn matcha tea stale. If you live in a hot and humid place, you may be tempted to throw your jar of matcha in the fridge. Before you do so, however, we suggest you consider these additional points.

Firstly, tea (especially matcha tea) will quickly absorb strong odors, including that leftover plate of chicken wings sitting in your fridge covered in tinfoil. Without proper precautions, your precious matcha could end up tasting like leftover chicken wings.

To prevent this fate, we once again recommend storing matcha under multiple layers of airtight protection. A good method is to use the Ziploc bag inside an airtight container, as described above.

Rule #3: Don't Prepare Cold Matcha Straight Out of the Fridge.

Furthermore, storing tea in the fridge may, in fact, create the humidity-damaging effects that you intended to prevent.

When you remove the tea from the fridge, the tea is cold. It then comes into contact with warmer air in your house, producing condensation and therefore introducing the tea to freshness-damaging moisture.

A solution is to take out the tea storage container, keep the lid closed, and let it warm up for several hours on the counter. After the tea has been allowed to warm up for at least half a day, you may open the container and prepare delicious matcha.

In short, storing matcha in the fridge (not in the freezer) is fine if you care for your tea properly.

RULE #4: Store Matcha in the Dark: Light will Eat Away its Abundant Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is a chemical that gives plants their green color. Because matcha is a special variety of shade-grown green tea, it takes much longer for the plant to mature, and thus, the tea leaves produce higher levels of chlorophyll. This is what makes matcha distinct from other green teas and what gives it its electric green color.

The drawback is that while light helps matcha plants produce chlorophyll, it also destroys chlorophyll once the matcha is processed. Therefore, tea experts suggest storing matcha in a dark place or in a dark (not clear) container. Exposing matcha to light, they say, may give the tea a metallic taste.

For this reason, we suggest not storing matcha in a clear or translucent container, or, if you must, place the clear container in a dark closet that you don’t open frequently. Or, simply store matcha in an opaque, airtight container such as the ones mentioned in this article, which you can keep in the fridge or on the kitchen counter.

Rule #5: If I Leave Matcha in the Cabinet for 10 Years, Will It Taste Better?

Some people may tell you that "aged matcha" is even more flavorful than fresh matcha, and you may even see aged matcha on store shelves. You may be tempted to try aging your own matcha to see what happens. However, we advise against it.

Tea experts can create aged matcha in heat, light, and humidity-controlled environments. As we’ve explained, matcha is a fragile beverage, and aging such a finicky tea takes extreme oversight and care.

However, leaving matcha in your cabinet for several years will ruin its freshness and may even make you sick. Even with the best care, matcha has a shelf life of about one year, and most recommend consuming it within 60 days of opening.

Airscape: A Safe, Convenient Way to Store Green Tea (Loose Leaf)

AirScape containers are popular among coffee drinkers… and they should be popular with green tea drinkers, too. Why? Because coffee and tea share the same threats to their freshness: oxygen, heat, light, moisture, and strong odors.

Due to the AirScape container’s one-way air valve, it ensures that whatever you put in it has a completely air-free home. If you have a lot of green tea to store, or even just a little, it’ll be safe and free from oxidation in one of these containers.

Additionally, the container is opaque, which prevents light damage. This feature will also prevent strong kitchen odors from damaging your tea’s vibrant taste. While a bit pricier than a basic green tea jar, this container will ensure that your delicious green tea loses none of its flavors. See the price and product description here.

Note: This product works well for loose leaf tea, but the fine powder could get stuck in the suction mechanism. For recommendations for matcha storage, read on to the next section.

Airscape Container

Vacuum Sealed Air-Tight Container: This One Is For Matcha or Fine Powder

As I mentioned above, AirScape is great for loose leaves, but the powder could get stuck in the system. I found a workaround to put kitchen paper between the matcha and lid to avoid this since AirScape is the best container that gives an airtight environment inside.

If you do not want to use kitchen paper for matcha, we recommend Vacuum Sealed Air-Tight Container. This allows air to escape by pressing the top lid, which will preserve the matcha well.

Click here to see the product detail.

What's the Bottom Line? The Best Way to Store Green Tea Is...

Use an AirScape container, or at least an airtight, opaque matcha container. If you live in a hot place, store the matcha container in the fridge; however, be sure to let it come to room temperature before opening the container. Lastly, prepare matcha within two months of opening and keep unopened containers for no longer than one year.