How long tea bags, loose tea, and instant tea keep in the pantry
Quick answer
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Room temperature
Keeps for 18-36 months
Keep tea bags in the pantry, where an unopened package lasts 18 to 36 months from the date you bought it.
Watch out Once you open the package, use the tea bags within 6 to 12 months.
Tea does expire, but slowly. Unopened tea bags keep 18 to 36 months in the pantry, loose tea 2 years, and instant tea 2 to 3 years. Once opened, all three keep 6 to 12 months. Matcha is the only tea that can be frozen after opening.
Buying tea this week?
On a Listonic list, every item gets the amount you need and a note on when to use it by.
- Quantity and unit on every item
- A note like “fridge, use within a week”
- One list shared with everyone at home
Tea does expire, but it keeps a long time. Unopened tea bags last 18 to 36 months in the pantry from the date you bought them, according to USDA FoodKeeper.
Opening the package shortens that. Once it’s open, tea bags, loose tea, and instant tea all keep 6 to 12 months in the pantry.
Does tea expire?
Yes, tea expires, with unopened times of 18 months to 3 years in the pantry depending on the form. Opened tea keeps 6 to 12 months, whatever the form. Unopened times count from the day you bought the tea.
| Tea | Unopened, in the pantry | Opened, in the pantry |
|---|---|---|
| Tea bags | 18 to 36 months | 6 to 12 months |
| Loose tea | 2 years | 6 to 12 months |
| Instant tea | 2 to 3 years | 6 to 12 months |
Do tea bags go bad?
Yes, tea bags go bad eventually, keeping 18 to 36 months in an unopened package and 6 to 12 months once opened. Both times are for tea bags kept in the pantry.
The 18 to 36 months count from the day you bought the box. Once you open it, the shorter 6 to 12 months take over.
How long does loose leaf tea last?
Loose leaf tea lasts 2 years in the pantry from the date you bought it. After you open it, it keeps 6 to 12 months, the same as tea bags.
Which lasts longer, loose tea or tea bags?
Unopened tea bags can last longer, up to 36 months against 2 years for loose tea, though their range starts lower at 18 months. Once opened, both keep 6 to 12 months in the pantry.
How long does instant tea last?
Instant tea lasts 2 to 3 years in the pantry from the date you bought it. Once opened, it keeps 6 to 12 months, like tea bags and loose tea.
How to store tea
Store tea in the pantry, where unopened tea keeps 18 months to 3 years and opened tea 6 to 12 months. Those are the USDA FoodKeeper times for tea bags, loose tea, and instant tea.
Can you freeze tea?
Matcha is the only tea you can freeze after opening, according to USDA FoodKeeper. Keep other opened tea in the pantry and use it within 6 to 12 months.
How long is tea good for after opening?
Opened tea is good for 6 to 12 months in the pantry, for tea bags, loose tea, and instant tea alike. The clock starts when you open the package, not when you bought it.
Write the date on the package when you open it. That way you’ll know when the 6 to 12 months are up.
Frequently asked questions
Does green tea expire?
Yes, green tea bags and loose green tea keep 6 to 12 months in the pantry after opening, the same as other tea. Unopened, tea bags keep 18 to 36 months and loose tea 2 years.
Do tea leaves go bad?
Yes, loose tea leaves keep 2 years in the pantry from the date you bought them and 6 to 12 months after opening.
How long do tea bags last unopened?
Unopened tea bags last 18 to 36 months in the pantry, counted from the date you bought them.
Which tea lasts the longest?
Instant tea and tea bags can both last up to 3 years unopened in the pantry. Instant tea keeps 2 to 3 years, tea bags 18 to 36 months, and loose tea 2 years.
