Is Your Teabag Still Good to Use After Its Expiration Date?

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Learn if your tea is safe (and delicious) to drink past its "best by" date
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Wondering if those expired teabags buried in your pantry are still good to drink? The answer may surprise you! Even though teabags have expiration dates, the fact that it’s past the date doesn’t necessarily mean it’s gone bad. Before you throw in the tea towel, find out if your old teabags are still safe to drink and how to store different teas properly to help them stay fresher longer.

Do teabags go bad?

Yes, teabags can go bad if they’re stored improperly. Moldy bags or leaves and no aroma or a damp smell are signs of bad teabags. When stored in an airtight container to prevent mold growth, teabags may be safe to use after their expiration date, but some teas – like green tea – lose flavor and potency after 2-3 years.

Section 1 of 6:

Are teabags safe to drink after they expire?

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  1. Tea actually has "best by" or "sell by" dates, not expiration dates. Manufacturers place “best if used by” dates on beverages such as tea to estimate when they will start to lose flavor and freshness, whereas expiration dates tell you when a product will be unsafe to consume. [1]
    • Teabags can still be safe to drink after the "best by" date. Some teas may stay flavorful for many months after the “best if used by" date passes. So don’t be put off if you pull old teabags out of the cabinet and discover they’re 2, 5, or even 10 years old. They may still make delicious cups of brew.
    • Some teabags can go bad well before the "best by" date. That date means nothing if the tea has been improperly stored and allowed to absorb too much moisture. Always check teabags thoroughly before you brew with them to ensure they haven’t spoiled.
    • The term “go bad” can be subjective when it comes to old teabags. Any bags with mold or discoloration on them or a rotting smell should go in the trash. But if the only thing wrong with it is a lack of smell or flavor, you can feel safe drinking it.
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Section 2 of 6:

Signs Your Teabags Have Gone Bad

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  1. Mold growth is almost always a bad sign, whether it’s in tea or any other food or beverage. If you see any green, white, or black spots on the teabag or on the leaves, discard it immediately! Consuming moldy tea will expose you to mycotoxins and make you sick. [2]
    • Even fresh storebought teabags can grow mold. The presence or lack of mold often depends on factors outside of your control, like where the tea leaves were grown and how the manufacturer processed and stored them. [3]
  2. Most teas lose their scent the longer they’re stored. If your teabags don’t have any smell whatsoever, that means the tea you brew with them won’t taste like anything, either. You can still drink it, though, if you don’t mind the lack of flavor.
    • Meanwhile, a moldy, smoky, or stale smell means your teabags are moist and the tea has degraded. [4]
  3. With certain types of tea, you may be able to tell if it’s optimal for brewing by the color of the leaves in the teabag. Color changes are most obvious in green tea, as fresh green tea leaves should be light green, not brown or golden. [5]
  4. If the appearance and smell of your old teabags don’t tell you anything, try making a cup . Take a sip, and if the flavor is stale or bitter, you know it won’t be pleasant to drink. [6]
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Section 3 of 6:

Tips for Storing Teabags to Keep Them Fresh

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  1. This will minimize their exposure to oxygen, sunlight, and moisture, all of which can encourage your tea to spoil faster. It will also help your tea stay pleasant to drink for as long as possible! [7]
  2. Avoid a plastic container, since that material absorbs smells and could alter the flavor of your tea. Purchase separate containers for each variety of tea to keep their flavor and scent profiles distinguishable. [8]
  3. The light and heat from the sun will degrade the tea and cause it to lose its color, scent, and flavor faster. Use an opaque container that fully blocks light from penetrating through to your teabags.. [9]
  4. Tea leaves absorb flavors from whatever they’re stored with that has a potent scent. Don’t, for example, store your black tea next to an herbal tea or a coffee tin. [10]
  5. Heat encourages oxidation in tea leaves, which causes them to change flavor. The only heat you want to apply to your teabags is boiling water! [11]
    • Store teabags in a cool, dry pantry or cabinet. The closed-in environment will enhance the tea’s freshness and provide an extra layer of protection against the elements.
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Section 4 of 6:

How Long Different Teas Stay Fresh

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  1. These are mellow drinks that don’t undergo any fermentation during processing, unlike black and oolong tea. Drink them before they lose their potency to take advantage of their health benefits. [12]
    • Green tea, in particular, has several health benefits, including cancer-fighting antioxidants.
  2. After that, its color, taste, and scent will begin to deteriorate. Fresh matcha has a strong green color and a prominent grassy flavor that some find offputting and others can’t get enough of! [13]
  3. Black tea leaves are completely oxidized after they’re picked, giving them a bolder, stronger flavor than green or white tea. Drinking this variety has been shown to reduce cholesterol, blood pressure, and the risks of stroke and cancer. [14]
  4. Their leaves are only partly fermented and fall between green tea and black tea in their flavor profile. Oolongs have also been linked to reducing the risks of hypertension and death from cardiovascular disease. [15]
  5. These aren’t made of tea leaves, but different types of herbs that are boiled in water to extract their flavors. Those herbs include popular flavors like peppermint, spearmint, chamomile, ginger, vanilla, and fruit essence. [16]
  6. During processing, the leaves are left to dry with microbial bacteria still in them. The bacteria remain in the leaves after they dry and, if you keep it long enough, will ferment the tea and transform its flavor. [17]
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Section 5 of 6:

What to Do with Expired Teabags

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  1. Common places that trap odors include garbage cans, fridges, and shoes. The leaves will absorb and help reduce the nasty smell. [18]
    • If the teabags are moldy or have an odd smell, throw them away. It’s never safe to repurpose teabags that are molded and rotten.
  2. The tea will help you remove the grime, fingerprints, and other types of muck, so they become shiny and reflective again. [19]
  3. These include hydrangeas and evergreens. Then place the teabags into your compost to make it more fertile and to recycle the bags. [20]
  4. For example, you can use them to treat bug bites, pimples, and puffy eyes. The tea’s natural antioxidants will help bring the inflammation down. Once the teabags are dry, remove them from your skin. [21]
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Section 6 of 6:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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  1. Yes, it’s safe to drink expired teabags as long as they still have a pleasant smell, are free of mold, and taste like normal tea when brewed.
  2. Yes, providing there are no signs of spoilage. Just be aware that after a decade on the shelf, most teas will have lost some or all of their flavor.
  3. Lipton recommends brewing and drinking most of its tea varieties up to 18 months after production. The date they stamp on their products is when they suggest throwing the tea away. [22]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/food-product-dating
      2. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/molds-food-are-they-dangerous
      3. ↑ https://drtaniadempsey.com/the-truth-about-pesticides-in-tea/
      4. ↑ https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/bagged-tea-or-loose-leaf-tea-better-you
      5. ↑ https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/bagged-tea-or-loose-leaf-tea-better-you
      6. ↑ https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/bagged-tea-or-loose-leaf-tea-better-you
      7. ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/food/tea-storage
      8. ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/food/tea-storage
      9. ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/food/tea-storage
      1. ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/food/tea-storage
      2. ↑ https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/should-you-store-your-tea-in-the-pantry-or-in-the-fridge-we-ask-the-experts/PZXV7BRTTAWZ43TVVMVKZFKTGE
      3. ↑ https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/food-features/tea/
      4. ↑ https://hospitalityinsights.ehl.edu/what-is-matcha
      5. ↑ https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/food-features/tea/
      6. ↑ https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/food-features/tea/
      7. ↑ https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/food-features/tea/
      8. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/what-is-puerh-tea-where-to-buy
      9. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/article/why-you-should-stop-throwing-away-used-tea-bags/
      10. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/article/why-you-should-stop-throwing-away-used-tea-bags/
      11. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/article/why-you-should-stop-throwing-away-used-tea-bags/
      12. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/article/why-you-should-stop-throwing-away-used-tea-bags/
      13. ↑ https://www.lipton.com/us/en/faqs/

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