Should or shouldn't you store tea in the fridge?
Some say no, others store green tea in the freezer....
The "enemies" of tea are moisture, light and heat.
So when storing tea, you want a low temperature, but more importantly, you want to avoid moisture.
So if you're storing tea in a fridge or freezer, you need to have a completely sealed package.
Our matcha (Dento , Zenmi), which comes in a completely sealed metal can, of course, does a great job.
Even welded aluminum bags work in most cases.
So it is mainly before opening the sealed package that refrigeration is relevant.
If it is possible to reseal it completely tightly, it can work, but then it is important that the air must not be too humid in the room, and that you can get the air out of the package as far as possible (eg aluminum bags that you squeeze out the air first).
Putting a reasonably tight bag in a jar can be a way to keep the moisture (and fridge smells!) out.
Condensation is very much about temperature differences.
If you take tea straight out of the fridge and open the package in a warm, humid room, the risk of condensation increases immediately, so you have to be quick....
Therefore, it is most relevant for long-term storage, otherwise it easily becomes a little too cumbersome, and increases the risk of moisture.
For environmental reasons, we try to avoid aluminum in our bags as much as possible.
But for larger packs, or for teas that cost a lot, it can be the right choice.
The worst packaging is the one that doesn't protect the product, because if the tea goes bad and has to be thrown away, it was produced in vain.
The type of tea also plays a role.
Pu'er is stored for several years to improve the flavor, some oolongs too , and then the discussion becomes completely different.
(They are stored at room temperature, by the way.) In general, green tea is more sensitive to moisture than black tea, and also loses flavor faster with longer storage.
In the end, it's up to you to decide if your tea is still enjoyable.
You simply have to test how it works, as the humidity level varies, and of course it also varies throughout the year.
In winter, the air is drier, and it may work better then.
A cool pantry might be a suitable compromise.
In any case, it is possible to avoid having your tea in a transparent glass jar on the spice rack, in the heat above the pasta pot..
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