Once opened, Tea (loose) keeps about 6–12 months in the pantry. Unopened, it keeps about 2 years.
6–12 months opened in the pantry, against 2 years sealed in the pantry. Green is what this situation leaves you; husk is what it spends.
| Situation | Keeps for |
|---|---|
| Unopened · pantry | 2 years |
| Opened · pantry | 6–12 months |
Air and warmth are what shorten an opened item's life — the right container buys back the days the packaging gives up once the seal's broken.
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About 6–12 months in the pantry, according to USDA FoodKeeper v128.
Tea (loose) is shelf-stable at room temperature: cool, dry pantry, sealed — refrigerating after opening is optional and mainly preserves quality. Refrigerating it mainly preserves quality rather than safety.
Look for: Sour or off smell; Cloudiness, sediment, or curdling; Fizzing in a still drink, or a swollen carton or can; A bitter or 'off' first sip. Those are the general signs for beverages — USDA FoodKeeper v128 publishes no spoilage note for Tea (loose) specifically. Never taste something to test it — when in doubt, throw it out.