How long does loose leaf tea stay fresh?

Quick Answer

Stored properly, most loose leaf teas stay good for around 12–24 months, though green and white teas fade a little faster than black teas.

A Little More

Black and herbal teas tend to hold their flavour longest thanks to how they're processed, while more delicate green teas are best enjoyed within about a year for their brightest flavour. None of this is a strict cut-off, it's simply that freshness fades gradually rather than tea becoming unusable overnight.

Teaspoon Tip

Buying smaller amounts more often, rather than stockpiling, is often the easiest way to always be drinking tea at its best.

Fancy Trying It?

- Green Tea Collection
- Herbal Tea Collection

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Explore The Tea Collections.

All teas are available subject to availability in tub size only on the market stall.
English Breakfast, Loose English Breakfast Tea from online teashop Teaspoon Tea Company, Large Rolled tea leaves produce a high quality tea shown here in a small shallow dish.
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Lung Ching Dragonwell Green Tea from Teaspoon Tea Co is probably our best tasting Green tea. It's also our best quality green tea and this can be seen here with its large pressed leaves. If your looking for a green tea that tastes good this is it.
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This is Orange Blossom Oolong Loose Leaf Tea from Teaspoon Tea Co. Oolong tea is halfway between Green tea and black tea, this tea is a large leaf with Orange blossom added giving it a strong orange taste. This speciality tea is definitely worth a try.
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A swallow dish of Rooibos Herbal Tea from online teashop Teaspoon Tea Co. The short bright loose leaves of Rooibos are light orange and red. This looks a very tasty caffeine-free tea.
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Chai Tea from online teashop Teaspoon Tea Co. Chai Spice Loose Leaf Tea can be seen here with large black tea leaves, pieces of Ginger, Cloves and Ginsing. This could be the Best Chai. A quality Tea.
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Passionfruit & Orange Fruit Tea from UK online Teashop Teaspoon Tea Co. This fruit tea looks so good, large pieces of rich fruit can be seen including Orange peel, Apple and Pineapple.
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