How To Store Matcha Powder (Best Ways To Keep It Fresh)

Have you ever had matcha tea made from old powder?

It simply does not taste as fresh and delicious.

That’s why you should use all of your matcha powder within 60 days.

But you don’t have to.

If you know how to store matcha powder properly, it will stay fresh longer.

Matcha has a few enemies: oxygen, heat, moisture, and light.

Protect it from those and it will taste better longer. Keep reading to learn the best way to store matcha to ensure it stays fresh as long as possible.

 

How To Store Matcha Powder

There are several great ways to store matcha to protect it from oxygen, moisture, light and heat. Each of the following storage methods works well to keep your green tea powder fresh.

 

In Special UV-Proof Containers

You should always store matcha in the dark, since light tends to oxidize the tea, causing it to lose its vibrant color and freshness.

You can buy special UV-resistant containers that are readily available online and in retail stores for storing matcha for longer. The advantages of using these containers include:

• Child-resistant lid
• Light-resistant
• Air-tight
• Maintains freshness longer
• Some containers come with colors for better organization

 

Steps

• Transfer the matcha powder from the pouch to the UV-proof air-tight glass jars.
• Place the jar in your fridge.
• If you plan not to use your unopened matcha for a long time, it is OK to store it in the freezer. However, it is not recommended to store opened matcha in the freezer since freezing can impact the tea’s taste.
• You can store your matcha jars in the fridge after opening them. Just make sure to use an airtight, light-resistant jar.

 

In Ziploc Bags

This method offers multiple levels of protection for keeping your matcha fresher for longer in the refrigerator.

• Place the matcha in a Ziploc bag and squeeze out all of the air from the bag.
• Place the bag in an air-tight jar and store the jar in the refrigerator.

 

In Tin Containers

Genuine matcha comes in tin cans or sealed pouches. If yours is in a sealed packet, you can transfer it to a tin can with a tight lid and store it in your refrigerator, pantry, or basement in a cool, dark area away from sunlight, heaters, burners, etc.

• If your matcha tea came in a tin can, you can save the outer can for future storage.
• You can place the container in the refrigerator, freezer (for long-term storage), or a cool, dark pantry.

 

In Clear Acrylic Containers Or Plastic Bins

This method of matcha storage is recommended for storing matcha that comes in the form of tea bags. Do note that genuine matcha does not come in tea bags. It is usually sold in cans or pouches.

However, some manufacturers have started selling their matcha in plant-based fiber paper. These tea bags are free from staples, dyes, chemicals, preservatives, and bleach. They are 100% biodegradable and environment-friendly.

The method of matcha storage given below is only applicable to matcha tea bags that come with an outer paper package or sleeve. If your matcha tea bag is only sealed in foil without an outer sleeve or packet cover, do not use the method below.

 

Materials Needed

• Acrylic containers with dividers or plastic bins
• Matcha tea bags (with outer paper covers only)

 

Steps

• Place your tea bags in the acrylic container.
• Some containers are tiered or have a cubed design. These allow you to group bags of the same type.
• This method allows you to see your assortment of teas easily and lets you quickly grab the tea you are in the mood for.
• You can store the container in your office desk drawer or on a pantry shelf in a cool, dry place. Make sure the bags are away from burners, stoves, and direct sunlight.

 

Important Rules Of Matcha Storage

As mentioned, matcha has a few natural enemies that cause it to deteriorate more rapidly. Follow these rules of matcha storage and you will find your tea powder lasting longer and tasting better.

 

Oxygen Is Matcha’s Biggest Enemy

Always store your matcha in airtight containers. Oxygen causes the catechins in matcha to deteriorate rapidly. To avoid matcha’s exposure to air, you want to make sure to use airtight containers for storing matcha.

 

Light Eats Away Matcha’s Chlorophyll

Always store your matcha in a dark place, such as your basement or a dark pantry. Light can eat away the chlorophyll in matcha, affecting its taste and health benefits.

 

Refrigerate Your Matcha

People living in hot, humid areas must refrigerate their matcha to prevent the heat-sensitive tea from deteriorating in taste, color, and flavor.

However, you also need to provide the delicate tea with multiple levels of protection to prevent it from absorbing the smells and flavors of other food items stored in the fridge.

Therefore, the best way to store your matcha tea is in an airtight, UV-resistant container, or in a Ziploc bag stored inside an airtight container.

 

Consume Your Matcha Within 60 Days Of Opening

Aged matcha does not taste as fresh and could even make you sick. Therefore, it is best to consume your matcha within two months of opening, although some manufacturers claim that the shelf-life of their matcha is over one year.

Can matcha make you sick if you drink it past 60 days? No, it is unlikely to make you sick, unless you are one of the unlucky few who are especially sensitive to the effects of caffeine or certain other components.

To be honest, you can usually drink it long after the 60 day period, but it won’t taste as good. But there is a chance your matcha could go bad, so make sure you check for any mold or other issues, if you decide to drink old matcha. Mold matcha can make you sick.

 

Should You Store Matcha In The Fridge?

Yes, you should store matcha in the fridge. It will last longer and will stay fresh longer than if you keep it at room temperature. This is especially true if it is hot and/or humid out. That said, it should be fine in a pantry or cupboard, too, as long as it is protected from light, humidity, and heat.

 

Can Matcha Powder Be Frozen?

Yes, matcha can be frozen. If you know you will need to store it for a long time, freezing might make sense, but the frigid air does negatively impacts the delicate tea’s flavor. For that reason, you should not store opened matcha in the freezer.

Moreover, when you remove the matcha from the freezer to prepare the tea, the warm air condenses over the cold matcha, reducing the tea’s antioxidant health benefits.

Therefore, it is best not to store opened matcha in the freezer. Instead, you may store it in the fridge by first providing it with several layers of protection, such as a Ziploc bag placed inside airtight, UV-resistant containers.

 

How Do You Store Matcha in Bulk?

If you have purchased matcha in bulk, you can keep the unopened tea in its original containers or pouches. Place the container or pouches in the fridge or a cool, dark place, such as your pantry or the basement, away from light and heat.

If you live in a hot, humid area, please store the unopened matcha in a refrigerator. If you have opened the matcha, take the required quantity and transfer the rest into a Ziploc bag or an airtight container, and place that in the refrigerator.

 

What Is The Best Way To Store Matcha Once Opened?

As mentioned earlier, you should consume your matcha within 60 days, once it is opened. This is because the air, humidity, and smells can quickly deteriorate the delicate flavors of matcha.

Once opened, you can store the matcha in an airtight container away from the sun, heat, and light. Transfer the matcha to a Ziploc bag, remove all the air from the bag, and place the bag in an airtight container before storing it in the refrigerator.

 

Can I Store Matcha In A Glass Container?

Matcha stored in a glass container looks pretty, but it also gets exposed to light. That can impact the tea’s delicate flavor, taste, and color and cause rapid oxidation and deterioration.

It is best to store your matcha in dark, airtight jars or frosted glass containers that prevent UV rays from damaging the matcha.

 

How To Store Matcha After Opening: Final Thoughts

Matcha powder can last a long time, but it does lose its freshness fairly quickly. That’s why it is best to consume it within 60 days of opening. If you store it correctly, it can last longer. If you store it poorly, it can deteriorate long before the 60 days.

Oxygen, light, heat, and moisture all have a negative effect on matcha green tea powder. Figuring out how to store matcha so that it lasts as long as possible is simply a matter of protecting it from those elements. The best way to store it is thus in an airtight container that does not let in light, and to put that container in the refrigerator.