Can I drink this black tea?

[cha cha]

Hey, everyone.

Today, I found out one package of the black tea which I bought serveral years ago? I left them on the shelf and just forgot it. On the package, it is said I should drink it best before 30.01.2007. I know it's nearly three years past the date. But until I open the package, the tea still looks ok and there is a fruity smell of the tea( this is an English Rose flavor).

Have you ever had the same situation like me? Could I still drink this tea? BTW, this afternoon, I have steep one pot and I feel still OK right now.

[Victoria]

I'm sure it's fine, go ahead. Don't worry, it's not bad for you, the date
is for when it will still be fresh and taste the best.

[cha cha]

Thanks Victoria. I love your love-shaped cup in your picture

[Victoria]

Aww thank you! I didn't take that picture, I found it a long time ago before I even joined this board. But I do have the cup and a new camera, so I should try some other shots.

So how did your tea taste? I like rose flavored on occasion. It's delicate and can be quite lovely if done correctly.

[cha cha]

Ummm...there is a fruity smell when I open the package and after the infusion, there is also a milky sweet. It feels good but the tea taste is not obvious as usual. But I think it's ok for me.

I am still not familiar with the word which to describe my tea review right now. I hope I could find more correct words to share my tea review in the future

[Victoria]

You are doing fine, no worries.

[sneakers]

Sealed packs of black tea last a long time. But once you open it, keep it air tight at room temperature. Green tea doesn't last as long.

Do rose petals taste anything like rosehips, which is often used in herbal "teas"? They're slightly tart.

[debunix]

Do rose petals taste anything like rosehips, which is often used in herbal "teas"? They're slightly tart.

The rose petals I've had in tea have had almost no flavor; I bought some dried rose buds and was entirely unimpressed by their lack of flavor. I suspect that it should be more like rose water than like the citrusy rosehips, but think the ones I got were more for show than for flavor.

[slurp]

I've been wondering about this for a while. There must be a lot out there. Anyone else discovered any tea that's been sitting around for years. Maybe forgotten in your grandparent's house?

[teacast]

Haha go ahead and drink up! Though it won't taste that tremendous . Well.... maybe it will! haha

[sneakers]

Cha cha didn't exactly say it was as old as tea from the '80's.

I suspect very old tea would have little taste, except those that are aged intentionally (I think puer?)

[delicate disaster]

I have a couple of teas with rose... I couldn't tell you if I taste the rose or smell the rose. If I can taste it, it's very delicate and sweet. But the teas in question both contain other strong tastes (one has Jasmine and the other cherry) so I don't know. For me, the scent really effects the taste though, so it may just be me.

[kymidwife]

Teavana's Marzipan Delight has whole tiny rosebuds in it... I always thought it added aesthetics to the dry leaf more than it added taste or aroma. They look really beautiful in contrast with the black tea leaf... a good visual marketing thing.

Sarah

[xdunlapx]

I've read a lot of customer reviews at teavana and every one of them were positive. If I ever venture into loose leaf tea I will definitely try teavana. They do have two stores near me (which I never knew about until recently) so I want to go sample their masala chai but I've heard their chai is not very bold, I like a bold chai. Anyone here like teavana?

[TwoPynts]

I recently found some old loose leaf black teas in our cabinet. One was from a relative of my wife's who has been deceased for several years. I've brewed up these teas and had no ill effects. I even rather like one of them. There are no marking to tell me what they are, but they came in ornate little tins so I'm assuming they were a quality black tea. One appears to have bits of orange rind in it as well.