茶葉怎麼保存，才能一直好喝？
How to Keep Your Tea Fresh
保存小撇步 ｜ Storage Tips
記住四個重點：防潮、避光、低溫、隔絕空氣。
Remember four things: keep it dry, keep it dark, keep it cool, and keep air out.
- 喝完記得把袋口封緊，或裝進密封罐
Seal the bag tightly after each use, or move the tea into an airtight container. - 放在陰涼處，避開陽光直射和爐台、窗邊等溫度高的地方
Store it in a cool, shady spot, away from sunlight, the stove, and windows. - 遠離香料、咖啡、清潔劑等氣味重的東西，茶葉很容易吸味道
Keep it away from strong smells like spices, coffee, or cleaning products. Tea absorbs odours easily. - 適合的容器：不透光的夾鏈袋、鋁箔袋、金屬罐或紙罐
Good containers include opaque zip-lock bags, foil bags, metal tins, and paper canisters.
可以放多久？ ｜ How Long Does Tea Last?
只要保存得當，茶葉可以放很久。一般建議在兩年內喝完，風味最好。
Stored well, tea keeps for a long time. For the best flavour, we recommend enjoying it within two years.
如果超過兩年，但茶葉沒有發霉，其實還是可以喝。經過適當烘焙後，雖然少了原本的清香，陳年茶也有一種獨特、溫潤的風味，值得品嚐。
After two years, tea is still fine to drink as long as there is no mould. With a light re-roasting it loses its fresh aroma, but aged tea develops a warm, mellow flavour of its own that is worth trying.
為什麼茶葉會變味？ ｜ Why Does Tea Change Over Time?
茶葉是乾燥的食品，本身很耐放。不過時間久了，茶葉的外觀、顏色、香氣和味道還是會慢慢改變，這就是「陳化」。
Tea is a dried food, so it lasts a long time. Over time, though, its look, colour, aroma, and taste slowly change. This is called "aging."
影響茶葉的主要有五個原因：受潮、陽光、高溫、空氣、異味。
Five things cause this: moisture, sunlight, heat, air, and strong smells.
- 顏色變暗 ｜ Colour fades
茶葉的翠綠色會因為高溫和陽光照射，慢慢變黃變褐。綠茶和清香型的包種茶最明顯。
Heat and sunlight turn the green leaves yellowish-brown. This is most noticeable in green tea and light oolongs like Baozhong. - 茶湯變濁、味道變淡 ｜ Flatter, cloudier taste
茶葉受潮後，裡面的好成分會氧化，茶湯喝起來比較淡，也可能帶一點悶悶的陳味。
When tea absorbs moisture, its natural compounds break down. The tea tastes weaker and may take on a dull, stale note. - 失去鮮甜感 ｜ Less sweetness and freshness
茶湯原本的清爽、鮮活和回甘會減少，綠茶尤其明顯。
The crisp, lively taste and sweet aftertaste fade, especially in green tea. - 產生酸味 ｜ Sour notes
放在高溫又接觸空氣的地方，茶葉可能會有油耗味或酸味。
Warmth and air exposure can make tea taste sour or slightly rancid. - 香氣變淡 ｜ Weaker aroma
放得越久，香氣就越弱。
The longer tea sits, the less fragrant it becomes.
