Normally, there may be instances where you wind up making far more tea than you can drink and you end up asking yourself, “Does brewed tea go bad?”
(I know I have!)
Whether it’s made hot or cold, brewed tea seems to be everyone’s comfort drink.
And of course, it can be fun brewing this wonderful drink for friends and family.
But, it’s quite devastating to check your kitchen counter and find a whole teapot filled with brewed tea that no one can seem to finish.
Fortunately, we’re here to address all your concerns.
Today, we’ll talk about everything you need to know about brewed tea along with some bonus tips you’re sure to love!
So, let’s now get started!
Does Brewed Tea Go Bad?
Almost everyone here on the planet is certain to have tried the soothing taste of brewed tea.
The drink helps us relax and refresh our mood making it perfect for any time of the day.
Whether you want your brewed tea cold or not, there are several health benefits that surround this drink
such as:
boosting immunity and reducing the risk of heart disease, making it the best beverage for people who want to stay fit and healthy.
It is not just the taste and health benefits of this drink that makes it so popular but also, because of how easy it is to make and the variety of flavors available on the market.
However, regardless of how amazing this drink may seem, it will still go bad, especially when it’s not stored properly.
Why?
Because the tea is made of ingredients that can easily deteriorate or expire through time, particularly when exposed to light, oxygen, and high heat.
This is why it’s important to store brewed tea properly, so you can prolong its life as long as possible.
Be sure to keep it away from direct sunlight or refrigerated at all times especially if the drink has already been iced.
The Learned Facts of Brewed Tea
So far, you’ve learned 2 main things in the given paragraph above.
- Brewed tea does go bad.
- It goes bad because of its ingredients.
- Light, heat and oxygen can affect brewed tea.
Regardless of how you make your brewed tea or if you keep it iced or hot,
It will still go bad.
So do you just simply throw out the tea you made or is it possible to store it somewhere so you can still enjoy it later?
Of course, no one ever wants to just toss their favorite drink into the sink…
And luckily, you don’t have to! To learn more about proper storing of left-over brewed tea, Head on below!
Can Brewed Tea Go Bad Even With Proper Storing?
Did you just recently remember that pot of tea you left on the kitchen counter?
Has it been days since you first made it? Do you still wish to save the tea you’ve brewed? Can brewed tea go bad even with proper storage?
Before you can proceed with storing, it’s good to know if the tea is still in good fit!
A brewed tea that’s beginning to spoil will taste like vinegar or have an acidic taste to it.
Furthermore, if it begins to smell like soured milk or sour cream, it’s best to toss the brewed tea because this can no longer be stored.
A brewed tea that’s still safe to drink will feel like water and not have any kind of sour smell. If you believe the quality has gone down in taste, it’s time to discard your brew
Why?
Because bacteria can grow on top of the brew making it unsafe for consumption.
You surely wouldn’t want to spend puking the whole day, don’t you?
Fortunately, brewed tea doesn’t go bad with proper storage and as long as you follow our given tips below, you’re sure to keep your beverage in good condition!
Here are the Best Ways to Store your Brewed Tea:
Storing Your Brewed Tea in The Fridge
One way you can prolong the tea you’ve brewed is by storing it in the fridge. This is the most effective way to keep the brewed tea fresh for those who enjoy cold drinks.
However, if you’re more of a hot drinker, storing it in the fridge can be unpleasant because your brew will be iced down.
When storing your tea in the fridge, take a container that is airtight and is fridge-friendly such as mason jars.
Mason jars are awesome since it’s good at sealing brewed tea without risking its glass from breakage.
This will prevent any bacteria from growing on your brew while it’s being stored. Furthermore, sealing your brew in a tight container will stop any smell from other items in the fridge from ruining its taste.
This means lesser chances of having a fish-tasting brew! (Thank God)
Storing Your Brewed Tea in Room Temperature
Don’t feel bummed out if you’re not an avid fan of cold-brewed tea. Because… You can still store it at room temperature.
That’s right!
It’s possible to store brewed tea at room temperature without affecting the taste of your favorite drink.
But be sure it’s not affected by direct sunlight since this can ruin the quality and color of your brew.
To store brewed tea in your kitchen, take an airtight container and place your tea in it.
This keeps the smell of your brew from transferring to other items in your kitchen or vice versa.
Doing so will also stop germs and bacteria from going into your brew. So when you feel like drinking, you can enjoy a brewed tea that won’t keep you overthinking if it’s safe (or not)
Tips on How To Make Your Brewed Tea Last Longer
It may come as a surprise to many tea-lovers out there, but there are actually many ways to make your brewed tea last longer.
Other than storing your tea to preserve it, why not make it in a way that will ensure it tastes better yet last even longer?
That’s surely a game-changer for people who are die-hard fans of tea!
Luckily, you don’t have to search the net for this information because we made sure to list everything below.
These are the top tips that can help you make your tea last longer, so you don’t have to constantly make a set of new ones.
Not only will you save money on this, but it'll ensure you don't end up wasting more brewed tea in the future!
When making your tea, don’t add sugar to it unless you’re about to drink it since sugar can help in the growth of bacteria.
According to an article from Chemist Online, sugar and water are the “perfect environment for the growth of yeasts“.
Don’t choose tea leaves that are not in bags because this could enable the growth of mold spores which could lead to the fermentation process that breaks
Don’t buy cheap tea.
It’s good to invest in tea leaves that are of good quality since this will make sure the drink lasts longer.
If you want a tea that is sweet in taste, it’s better to use honey as a natural sweetener since this will help prolong the drink and not harm the taste of tea even when you store it.
Discovering Storing Hacks of Brew
We can’t deny the fact that there’s a lot that we’ve learned in the given information above!
You now know that
- Brewed tea can be stored in your fridge and at room temperature.
- Mason jars are great for sealing up brewed tea.
- Properly storing brewed tea will stop it from spoiling.
- There are ways to make a tea that will last longer.
It’s now time to move to the next part which is…
How Long Does Stored Tea Last?
So you finally stored your tea, and you’re all happy mainly because you don’t have to waste your time making another batch of brewed tea.
And you can finally bring justice to those wasted brewed tea you kept tossing out your sink.
However, the question suddenly hits you
“How long does stored tea last?”
Well, the answer depends on the type of storing method you went for. First, let’s check out brewed tea stored in the fridge:
How Long Does Cold Brewed Tea Last When Stored?
For starters, cold brew tea if not stored will only last about a few hours before it goes bad.
However, if you properly store it in your fridge, it can last up to a week as long as you place it in an air-tight container.
Fortunately for those people who love cold brewed tea, bacteria and taste aren’t quite a huge issue.
Theoretically, when in the fridge, the water never reaches a warm temperature for bacterial growth.
The cold extraction water process can even result in a drink that tends to taste great even after days in the fridge.
How Long Does Hot Brewed Tea Last When Stored in Room Temperature?
If you’re just like me who loves hot brewed tea, you’d certainly love knowing that you can preserve your tea without storing it in the fridge!
Surprised? Well, anyone would be!
It’s a common thought that storing something out of a fridge can lead it to spoil.
But that isn’t always the case. If you place your brewed tea in an air-tight container then chances are: It will last up to 8 hours.
If you made tea in the morning and weren’t able to finish it, you can drink it at night after a long day at work.
Just simply pop it into your cup and heat it up and voilà! You can now enjoy your tea without worrying about harsh bacteria.
Knowing Brewed Tea’s Time-Span
Ain’t it a relief to have all the questions in your mind answered? Well, it surely is!
You now know that:
- Tea inside an air-tight container and stored in the fridge can last up to a week.
- Hot tea that’s placed in an airtight container can last up to 8 hours at room temperature.
And before we end this splendid reading experience, let’s head to the last part of the article…
Final Words
A brewed tea is indeed an amazing beverage that can bring comfort and health benefits to those who drink it.
Knowing how to properly store this wonderful drink is certainly a life hack for all of us tea-lovers out there.
The next time you make a batch of brewed tea and notice there’s some leftover, don’t be bummed out since your question of “Does brewed tea go bad?” has finally been answered.
Remember this article and save up that extra glass of brewed tea for the next time you’ll need it.