Guide to Storing Matcha: How to Keep Your Matcha Tea Fresh
Matcha is a unique powdered green tea with a distinct taste and a vibrant green color. It’s one of the most fragrant green teas available and can even support your brain and bone health. Around the world today, matcha is one of the most popular drinks to grab for a quick energy boost. Whether you have some at home or are looking to stock up your pantry, knowing how to store this caffeinated drink is a must!
In this guide, we’ll explore matcha's benefits, why proper storage is necessary, and how to store it. By the end of this article, you’ll know everything you need to store matcha and ensure you can use every last bit of this fantastic powder!
An Introduction to Matcha and Its Benefits
Matcha is a green tea with plenty of benefits for your overall health. It’s popular today and used in lattes, teas, desserts, and more, but many people drink this type of tea regularly for its benefits. It’s not only high in antioxidants, but it may also help you protect your liver health. For this reason, it has become a popular alternative to coffee.
Some sources also say that matcha can boost your brain function and even help prevent cancer because of a specific compound found in the powder. With so many pros to drinking matcha, knowing how to store matcha is a must, so you can use every ounce of this powerful substance.
💡 Matcha is a type of green tea, but unlike most green teas, the entire leaf is consumed
Why Proper Storage is Crucial for Matcha
Knowing how to store matcha green tea powder is a must. Not only will you save money on buying more powder more frequently, but you’ll also ensure the product’s quality over time. Properly storing matcha can help you keep the same flavor profile and aroma you enjoyed when you first purchased it.
It can turn or become less potent if you don’t keep your matcha out of the elements—such as light, air, heat, and moisture. Matcha is highly sensitive to the elements, as most teas are, so the more exposed it is, the worse the quality becomes. One of the biggest challenges is oxidation (a chemical reaction that occurs which results in the browning of certain foods), which is quickly remedied if you store matcha properly. But how do you store matcha? Let’s explore that next!
Best Practices for Storing Matcha at Home
The best place to store matcha in your kitchen or pantry is in a cool, dark, dry place. Avoid light, heat, and moisture, as these can cause your matcha to begin to lose certain compounds, like chlorophyll, that can provide benefits and protect its flavor profile. The type of container you choose also matters because you want the powder to be shielded from the exterior environment you may store it in.
It's highly recommended that you use a container that is not transparent, as this can protect your powder even more. Matcha tea storage, when done correctly with suitable containers, can help you keep your matcha in peak quality for up to six months. However, most people recommend drinking or using the powder within three months for the best results. If you’re curious about what containers are best, let’s explore some of the most essential qualities to look for when finding matcha powder storage.
How to Choose the Right Matcha Container
Choosing a suitable matcha container is essential to storing matcha properly in your home. For the best results, you should aim for three qualities in your matcha powder storage options: airtight, light-blocking, and moisture-resistant. If you aim for these three qualities, you’ll help keep your matcha out of the elements, potent, and as fresh as possible until you’re ready to dig in for more.
One of the best containers for storing matcha is the Tightvac container. As a vacuum-sealed, opaque food container, it can keep your tea three times fresher and last longer, ensuring that your matcha powder avoids the elements and stays as potent as possible. With these containers, your matcha could remain fresh for up to two years when kept in a dark, cool location! However, there are some steps you’ll need to take to store matcha, which we’ll discuss next.
Step-By-Step Guide on How to Store Matcha Long Term
No matter how much matcha powder storage you need to prepare, there are some essential tips you’ll need to follow to ensure you’re storing matcha properly in your home. When putting your matcha powder in containers for the first time, you’ll need to choose a suitable container, as discussed above.
Then, you’ll need to use a clean workspace to avoid contamination. You’ll also need a clean utensil to help you transfer the matcha from your original container to your new airtight one. Be careful when scooping it out, and work quickly to avoid long-term exposure to the elements. Then, seal and label it, putting it in the pantry for use. After this initial step, there are also some other tips we can offer to help you store matcha properly:
- Keep It Airtight: The first step to storing matcha properly is to keep it airtight. With your Tightvac or other airtight container, ensure it is sealed once you place the matcha powder inside.
- Store in a Cool, Dark Location: Matcha can’t be stored near water, heat, light, or moisture and lasts long. It must be placed in a cool, dark spot away from heat and light, like in your pantry. If needed, you can use a closet.
- Refrigerate If Necessary: While not ideal, you can store your matcha powder in the fridge. If you do, ensure the container is airtight and will not allow moisture to seep into the matcha powder.
- Use Clean Utensils: Whenever you add or remove matcha powder, use clean, dry utensils. Never use a wet spoon, and try not to leave any scoops in your matcha powder storage, as this could taint the flavor over time.
- Check for Freshness Often: To ensure you don’t lose that potent matcha taste, regularly check in on your matcha powder storage. It’s best to check your matcha container every few days to ensure it smells fine and is still vibrant green.
Now that you know more about how to store matcha, you’re all set to prepare your container to enjoy endless matcha lattes and treats!
Final Tips for Matcha Enthusiasts
If you’re a matcha fan, you already know how fantastic matcha powder is. For those who want to make the most of their matcha, be sure to purchase matcha in smaller quantities so you always have the freshest ingredients to use. While it might be tempting to buy larger amounts, it can degrade in quality much more quickly.
Additionally, consider putting your matcha in the fridge or freezer. This can be a great idea if you use an airtight container, but once you put it in there, you’ll need to keep it in there. Matcha does not do well with temperature changes. Furthermore, you’ll also need to be careful that the container stays airtight.
In the fridge or freezer, exposure to moisture and cold could make your matcha go bad faster, but as long as you’re careful and only take what you need per serving each time, the fridge or freezer is not a bad place to store your beloved matcha powder.
Try Out the Tightvac Today for Your Matcha Tea Storage
We hope this guide has shown you some fantastic ideas to enhance your matcha powder storage. From understanding how to protect matcha to retain its potency to knowing the best matcha containers, you now know how to store matcha green tea powder.
To purchase your very own container, browse our assortment of airtight tea and matcha containers today. Whether you’re storing matcha or another item, Tightvac has plenty of solutions to upgrade your storage potential.
- Brie Allen
