Chinese tea packaging and refrigeration

[beachape]

I just bought some green tea from china, the kind that comes in a tin with a sealed silvery plastic bag inside. I was wondering if anyone knows if any Chinese teas come in nitrogen flushed bags or are they simply heat sealed? Also I have heard of refrigerating japanese tea that is unsealed, but is it a good idea to put sealed bags of Chinese tea in the fridge? I had never heard of Chinese people or sellers doing that so I was wondering what you guys do. Thanks

[Chip]

Actually, many Chinese do cold store their tea, greens anyway. A heat sealed bag can be cold stored generally w/o a problem. Just keep it away from smelly foods.

I do cold store Chinese greens and whites.

[beachape]

Thanks a lot. Do you know of chinese tea packages are nitrogen flushed or is that just a Japanese thing? Just curious.

[Pentox]

I would guess the nitrogen flushing would be pretty vendor specific. I would imagine there is a variety of vacuum packing, nitrogen flushing, and just plain heat sealing. It all depends on the kind of tea and the equipment available.

[Chip]

As of a few years ago, it was pretty rare to see nitro flushed Chinese tea, too expensive of an investment for many of the smaller sellers.

TeaSpring did not at last writing.

So, I will have to go with, I do not know.

[woozl]

I recently cracked open some Chinese green from '08 and was pleasantly surprised at how fresh it still seemed. It was sealed and "cooler" stored i.e. wine cellar.

[thanks]

Chinese greens can also age, from what I've heard. Obviously they're not aged on purpose by vendors or factories, but apparently it's pretty good. I would just try to keep oxygen and moisture out.

[xuancheng]

I just bought some green tea from china, the kind that comes in a tin with a sealed silvery plastic bag inside. I was wondering if anyone knows if any Chinese teas come in nitrogen flushed bags or are they simply heat sealed?

Chinese green tea is usually not nitrogen flushed here in China. That may change by the time it gets to the US. I suppose some larger companies in China may be starting to do that.

Also I have heard of refrigerating japanese tea that is unsealed, but is it a good idea to put sealed bags of Chinese tea in the fridge? ...

I think you want to only refrigerate sealed bags of tea. I know of a local tea shop who ruins their retail green tea by refrigerating it in large unsealed bags. Every time you take the bag out, the cool tea in the outside air will cause condensation on the bag, and on the tea inside of the bag unless the seal is airtight. If take a sealed bag out of the fridge and wait for it to reach room temp. all condensation forms on the outside of the bag, you can wipe it off and it won't affect the tea.

[Chip]

Speaking of aging greens. Of course Japanese gyokuro is purposely aged at least 6 months.

However I recently experimented with a Chinese green Spring Sprout, a certified fair trade organic from Rishi. I felt it could benefit from some aging, so I kept a small amount in airtight packaging and let it sit for around 8-9 months. I just opened it yesterday and found it very nice and sweet, actually seemingly better than when it was super fresh.

I believe this is an exception to the rule, however this is not the first Chinese green I have had that benefited from some aging. Zhu Ye Qing, Song Lou, both from TeaSpring, both improved for me.

Live and learn ...

[thanks]

Speaking of aging greens. Of course Japanese gyokuro is purposely aged at least 6 months.

However I recently experimented with a Chinese green Spring Sprout, a certified fair trade organic from Rishi. I felt it could benefit from some aging, so I kept a small amount in airtight packaging and let it sit for around 8-9 months. I just opened it yesterday and found it very nice and sweet, actually seemingly better than when it was super fresh.

I believe this is an exception to the rule, however this is not the first Chinese green I have had that benefited from some aging. Zhu Ye Qing, Song Lou, both from TeaSpring, both improved for me.

Live and learn ...

Ah yes, how could I forget gyokuro! I'm so used to pu'er where it's aged almost indefinitely, not according to a specific time-frame.