Alright, let’s talk about this tea thing, you know, how long it lasts in that there fridge. Folks keep askin’, and it ain’t rocket science, but gotta keep things straight, ya hear?

First off, the dry stuff, the leaves. Well, them things, they last a good long while. I mean, a real long while. Like them old jars of beans in the cellar, they just sit there. But, mind you, the flavor, that’s a different story. It fades, ya know, gets weaker, like an old man’s voice. They put them “best before” dates on them bags, but that’s just a guess, I reckon. Use your nose, if it smells like dust bunnies, toss it, simple as that.

Now, the brewed tea, that’s where it gets tricky. It’s like milk, kinda. Can’t just leave it sittin’ around forever, no sir.

• If you put it in the fridge, it’ll last a day or two, maybe. Two days tops, I’d say. But you gotta put it in a good container, one of them airtight ones, you know, the ones with the lids that snap tight. Otherwise, it’ll pick up smells from that there fridge. Leftover onions, yesterday’s fish, you name it. Then your tea gonna taste like a garbage pail, and nobody wants that, right?

I heard tell, some fancy folks in the government, the CDC they call ‘em, said you shouldn’t keep homemade iced tea in the fridge more than eight hours if you wanna be extra careful. Eight hours! That ain’t much time at all. But I guess they know what they’re talking about, them city folk with their rules and regulations. Me, I usually stretch it a bit longer, but don’t tell nobody I said that.

Then there’s this cold brewed tea, the kind you let sit in the water for a long time. That stuff’s a bit different. It can sit in the fridge overnight, even longer. And it won’t get all bitter and nasty, long as it stays cold. But still, don’t push it too far. Three days, that’s the limit, I reckon. Any more than that, and it’s probably goin’ bad, even if it don’t look like it.

And here’s a tip, learned it the hard way: Always, always, mark the date on that container. Get yourself a piece of tape, write the date on it, stick it on the lid. That way, you know how long it’s been sittin’ there. No guessin’, no sniffin’ and wonderin’. Just look at the date, simple as that. A New York coffee shop, Mochas & Javas, they do it too, so it must be a good idea, right?

So, to sum it up, dry tea lasts a long time, but the flavor goes away. Brewed tea in the fridge, a couple of days, maybe. Cold brewed, maybe a bit longer. Always use a clean, tight container, and always, always mark the date. That’s it. No need to make it complicated.

And for goodness sake, if it looks funny or smells funny, don’t drink it! Common sense, ain’t it? It’s just tea, not the end of the world if you gotta pour some down the drain. Better safe than sorry, that’s what I always say. Now go on, make yourself a nice cuppa, and don’t fret too much about it.

One last thing, if you’re worried about it, just make a fresh batch. That’s always the best way, ya know? Fresh is best, just like them tomatoes from the garden.

Tags: [tea, storage, fridge, brewed tea, shelf life, cold brew, tea leaves, best before date, freshness, iced tea]