If you’re going to make a pitcher of iced teas for a hot summer day, you may get a head start on the preparation by brewing the tea ahead of time. Learn how long brewed tea lasts so you can enjoy the perfect amount of tastes when the time comes. When you think of iced teas, you might picture a sugary drink with a hint of tea flavor. Iced tea, on the other hand, is actually normal tea with ice, according to purists. Start by preparing a large pitcher of tea if you like this more natural beverage. Does tea go bad after brewed? How long you can keep it? You can keep brewed tea in the refrigerator for a few days, but only for that long.
After that, the tea can grow bacteria, making it unsafe to drink. Find out more about brewing large batches of tea and how best to store it.
So does tea go bad after brewed?
Yes, if you don’t store brewed tea in an airtight container, it will go bad. It must be maintained in a very cold environment (such as the refrigerator) and out of direct sunlight. Brew tea can be kept in the fridge for up to 48 hours. It lasts up to 8 hours on the counter.
There are a lot of ifs and buts in there. We’ll discuss all of them in this article so you’re very clear and what can make your tea go bad. We’ll go through each one in detail in this article so you know exactly what causes your tea to spoil.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a regulation in 1996 stating that teas should not be kept in the fridge for more than 8 hours. That is a reasonable amount of time, and your teas will be fine after 8 hours.
But I’ve tried ( and several others actually) and tested things out, and I found that some teas can be kept for longer than that. Now let’s get into the specifics.
But what does it mean that the tea has gone bad?
We have to discuss this too. If you mean the taste is off, and it seems kind of stale, but it’s not an unhealthy concoction that your teas might just be okay for:
- 8 hours on the counter, room-temp, uncovered. Depends on what kind of tea you’ve got since some flavors can disappear quickly.
- 24 hours in the fridge, airtight container, no sugar or fruits added.
If you mean that the teas is no longer safe to consume because it has gone moldy (or is about to go moldy), then your tea will last much longer. This means that tea can be kept in the fridge for up to 72 hours if it is kept covered and no sugar or fruits have been added.
If it’s been in the fridge but left out, it won’t last more than 72 hours since the smells and germs already present in the fridge will have an easier time getting to it.
If you mean that the tea is no longer safe to consume because it has gone moldy (or is about to go moldy), then your tea will last much longer. This means that tea can be kept in the fridge for up to 72 hours if it is kept covered and no sugar or fruits have been added.
If it’s been in the fridge but left out, it won’t last more than 72 hours since the smells and germs already present in the fridge will have an easier time getting to it.
Keeping tea last longer in the fridge
If you mean that the teas is no longer safe to consume because it has gone moldy (or is about to go moldy), then your teas will last much longer. This means that teas can be kept in the fridge for up to 72 hours if it is kept covered and no sugar or fruits have been added.
If it’s been in the fridge but left out, it won’t last more than 72 hours since the smells and germs already present in the fridge will have an easier time getting to it:
- The bacteria have a lower chance of growing because it requires at least room temperature (about 20 C/68 F) to thrive. It will be slowed, but not killed, by a chilly climate. Your refrigerator isn’t the polar ice cap.
- Heat affects the flavors and nutrients in your tea as well. When exposed to heat, they become fragile and begin to destroy their chemical bonds. As a result, cold storage will maintain them connected for a longer period of time. They’ll still deteriorate but at a considerably slower rate.
So you could argue that your refrigerator effectively puts a hold on your food and beverages. It does, in a sense. This is why if you leave a stew out on the counter overnight, it will spoil, but if you put it in the fridge overnight, it will be alright.
It’s important to remember that the cold slows bacteria and chemical breakdown, but only to a certain extent. Some bacteria kinds can develop at temperatures above 5 C/41 F, so keep your fridge temperature below that.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, it’s your teas. You can drink it as you like. Just keep in mind:
- Fruits and sweets might hasten the deterioration of the teas.
- Teas should never be left out in the open.
- Always keep the teas in a frigid environment.
- It’s important to remember that room-temperature teas shouldn’t be kept for longer than 8 hours. It still needs to be covered.
And, as usual, make sure that whatever you’re using to boil your teas is completely clean before you begin. Also, whatever you use to store the brewed teas should be completely clean beforehand. If you use a teapot, ensure sure the spigot is completely cleaned after each use.
Related article:
1. How much loose leaf tea per cup for perfect taste?
2. How much caffeine is in green tea? How to reduce it?
3. How long does loose tea leaf last? Tips to keep it fresh