Brewed Tea Shelf Life

• Once brewed, the timer on tea's shelf life begins ticking a lot faster than when dry in tea bags or loose-leaf form. Any unused cold tea should be discarded after five days of refrigerated storage. While this is the upper limit of tea storage, tea tastes best when brewed daily. For bottled tea beverages, which often have added preservatives for freshness, refrigerate opened bottles for up to 10 days after opening.

Tea Spoilage Indicators

• Spoiled tea often has clear-cut indicators of spoilage such as mold or off odors. If either of these occur, dispose of the tea without tasting it. However, some spoilage organisms are not easy to identify using your senses alone, making it important to follow guidelines for the shelf life of your cold-stored tea. The smell of fresh tea will dissipate considerably over several days of storage. If your tea does not smell fresh, opt for brewing a new batch over using tea that is past its prime.

Tea Storage Basics

• Be sure to always practice good food handling and storage practices to avoid spoilage in cold-stored tea. Wash your hands before brewing tea and use clean utensils and containers for storage. Always refrigerate brewed tea within four hours of preparing it to prevent spoilage. Refrigerate tea in a closed container with a tight-fitting lid for the longest shelf life and least loss of quality. Tea picks up odors from other foods easily, so be thoughtful about refrigerator odors and cleanliness when storing tea regularly. Allow tea to cool first before storing it in the refrigerator.

Iced Tea Service

• While iced tea straight up is sometimes the perfect solution on a hot day, it can also be dressed up to suit any number of occasions. Start simple by adding a little sugar and lemon wedge to a glass or add a splash of fruit juice to the tea for even more flavor. Brew flavored teas that stand alone with no additions needed or garnish your iced beverage with a slice of lime or orange, cherries, mint or peaches to add flavor.