A few principles
How to store my teas has for a long time been a subject of concern. Especially as I was beginning to build my collection, I was worried to damage the outcome of my sourcing trips. In the midst of many conflicting theories, I did not have enough experience to know if I was doing it right.
The more time went by, the more I realized that it was not such an arcane matter as some would suggest. However, there are some easy basic principles that need to be followed:
- no contact with sunlight
- no contact with dampness
- no contact with artificial / chemical smells
- If possible, store similar teas together
Applied to your own surroundings
The crux is that your dark tea’s ageing will be influenced by the environment in which it is stored, for better or worth. It is therefore essential to take that specific environment into account when you arrange your storage setting, instead of just following guidances which may originate from a different climate.
The good news is that if you nimbly apply the four principles above to your own setting, it is very hard to ruin your tea. The only time I had to throw away tea because of bad storage was in a very hot and humid environment, while helping out at a tea store in China. We trusted common wisdom, instead of checking the particular conditions of a batch of tea.
Sometimes clay jars are perfect for storing tea, sometimes they accumulate too much dampness (the type of clay is also very important). Controlling your tea occasionally is enough, as it will not go bad in a day. Once you know what suits your setting, it gets even easier.