How Long Can You Keep Tea

The good news is that tea generally stays fresh for quite some time – around three to four months when stored in a bag and up to a year when stored in a tin or other airtight container.

Can old tea make you sick?

CINCINNATI — A refreshing glass of iced tea might make you sick if not brewed properly. All brands of loose tea and tea bags contain potentially harmful bacterial organisms, according to health officials. …

Can bacteria grow in tea?

Tea leaves may be contaminated with coliform bacteria. If iced tea is brewed at inadequate temperatures or in an improperly cleaned urn, or if it is stored for too long, it may grow coliform bacteria, most frequently Klebsiella and Enterobacter, and less commonly E. coli.