Can 1-Year-Old Xinyang Maojian Still Taste Good?
Many tea lovers often ask two questions:
- This year’s Xinyang Mao Jian, can I still drink it next year?
- Xinyang Mao Jian must be put in the refrigerator?
The answer is not necessarily! Today we are from the characteristics of tea, shelf life, storage methods, three aspects, for you to answer in detail.
1. Xinyang Mao Jian belongs to what tea?
In 1979, Anhui Agricultural University, Professor Chen Rafael proposed a classification of six tea categories, according to the processing technology and fermentation degree of division. Xinyang Mao Jian belongs to unfermented green tea, the production process includes:
- Picking → Killing → Kneading → Drying
It is characterized by:
- Shape: fine, round, tight, straight, with white hairs
- Taste: freshness, orchid flavor, sweetness and freshness.
Xinyang is located in the north tea area, the growth cycle of tea trees is longer than the south, the picking time is later, the tea leaves accumulate more nutrients, so the taste is more mellow.
2. What is the shelf life of Xinyang Mao Jian?
Green tea emphasizes “freshness”, so time has a great impact on quality. The shelf life of Xinyang Mao Jian is usually 12-24 months, which is a fast consuming product, unlike white tea and Puerh tea which can be stored for a long time.
Why green tea is not suitable for long-term storage?
- White tea and Pu-erh tea can “get better with age”, but only if the raw materials are good, the process is good, and the storage is proper.
- If green tea is stored for too long, it will oxidize, lose its freshness and even carbonize, losing its drinking value.
The longer the shelf life of tea, the better?
Not necessarily! The optimal flavor of tea is like a parabola – too short is not mellow enough, too long will deteriorate. For the average tea drinker, drinking within the shelf life is the safest option.
Why do many people favor Xinyang Mao Jian?
- Early picking (pre-mingming tea, pre-rain tea), high tenderness
- Low risk of pesticide residue (less insect pests in early spring, safer)
In contrast, the fresh leaves of white tea and Pu-erh tea have high maturity, are picked late, and have many insect pests in summer, so the problem of pesticide residues needs more attention.
3. How to preserve Xinyang Mao Jian?
Green tea is afraid of light, heat, humidity and odor, so the storage should follow: cool, dry, sealed, avoiding light, moisture and odor.
Traditional storage method: lime preservation
In the era when there was no refrigerator, tea farmers commonly used quicklime to preserve Xinyang Mao Jian:
- Wrap the tea leaves in paper or cloth
- Put them into a jar covered with quicklime
- Sealed and preserved
Lime can absorb moisture, and after 7 days the tea leaves will have a stronger aroma and fresher flavor, and will remain fresh even after 1-2 years of storage.
Modern Storage Method: Refrigerator Chilling/Freezing
- Drink within 6 months → refrigerated (0℃~5℃)
- Store for more than 6 months → Refrigerate (-10℃~-18℃)
Precautions:
- Tea leaves should be sealed tightly to avoid absorbing odors
- It is best to store separately, do not mix with food
Effect of storage time
If stored properly, Xinyang Mao Jian is still fresh within 2 years. Some people have even drunk old green tea naturally stored for 16 years, although the freshness is reduced, the taste is mellow and sweet, with a unique flavor.
