How to Store Tea Leaves for Reuse

Ever wonder how to store tea leaves for reuse? Ever wonder whether it is safe to reuse loose tea leaves the next day? If you are a tea lover, you may have a hard time tossing your precious tea leaves after just one steep. Then, you have come to the right place.

Is it safe to reuse the tea leaves the next day?

Unlike tea bags which are not suitable for multiple steeps, it is OK, actually best for you, to re-steep loose leaf tea, which can bring out more subtle flavors and notes. Given the different types of tea, how many times each tea can steep differs. And there is always a debate on how long the tea leaves can sit around before you reuse them.  Some said tea leaves must be discarded 3 hours after it has been steeped, other thought it is safe to reuse for the next day. Actually, it is not suggested to reuse the overnight tea for the fear that the moisture in the leaf can encourage harmful bacteria or mold growth. However, we can re-steep the tea leaves for several times during a day. 

How to store tea leaves for reuse?

How to store tea leaves for reuse, or to say, how to store tea leaves between steepings? From our article How to Brew Tea, you may know that you should avoid steep tea leaves so long, which will makes the tea taste bitter. You should take out the tea leaves after 3-5 minutes steeping. So, you need to well store the tea leaves for next time steeping.

The key is to avoid moisture. It is bad to leave the wet tea aside in the tea infuser for extended periods. Bacteria thrive on both moisture and heat. So to store the tea leave for reuse, you need:

1. Dry out the tea leaves. Remember not to squeeze, which will cause broken tea leaves. You can use a tissue or a handkerchief to absorb the excess moisture.
2. Spread the tea leaves out in as thin of a layer as possible on a flat surface.
3. Place them in a well-circulated room.

Store the tea leaves with the above methods can reduce the bacteria and mold growth to a large extend. What do you think? Is there a better way to store tea leaves for reuse the next day? Share with us below.