Q: Does tea become stale? What’s the best way to store it?

A: As long as they're kept in a dry, closed container away from heat and light, tea leaves usually don't go bad. But their flavor will fade. Delicate teas, such as white and green teas, fade fastest, usually within about 6 months to a year. Black tea lasts longer, usually up to a couple of years.

If they get damp, tea leaves can get moldy. So the refrigerator or freezer isn’t a great place to store them. An opaque, airtight container in a dark cabinet is best. Don’t store tea next to anything with a strong aroma.

Brewed tea should be refrigerated and used within a day or two.

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The renovation of Jekyll Island's Great Dunes golf course includes nine holes designed by Walter Travis in the 1920s for the members of the Jekyll Island Club. Several holes that were part of the original layout where located along the beach and were bulldozed in the 1950s.(Photo by Austin Kaseman)

Credit: Photo by Austin Kaseman