Does Matcha Go Bad Over Time?
Like all food products, matcha can spoil or go bad over time. The shelf life of matcha depends on a number of factors, including how it is stored and the type of matcha you have. Generally, high-quality matcha will have a longer shelf life than lower-quality matcha. Properly stored, high-quality matcha can last for up to two years. Lower-quality matcha may only last for a few months.
That is why you might taste a bit more bitterness and notice changes to color with a matcha that is been sitting on your shelf for months.
Older, expired matcha will not have the flavor qualities that you are looking for from a matcha, nor will it have aroma. Without following the steps to store your matcha as described here, your matcha will eventually lose its freshness and taste, become stale, and lose the magic nutrients of matcha. Unless you are going to be using it immediately with the best seal, do not open your new matcha jar or bag until you are ready to start using it, because the matcha will slowly lose its freshness after it is opened.
Matcha powder will slowly lose flavor quality, but it will still be fine to use in beverages up to 12 months as long as it is not exposed to humidity. If so, before telling you about the proper way of storing powder, we will also tell you that once matcha powder comes into contact with water, it will get spoilt and will lose the taste. You have to store matcha powder somewhere you can see it in your kitchen, so you will not forget to use it after only one month of opening.
By the way if you’re interested in Are Tea Leaves Edible, then check out my another article.
Once you have opened matcha and the humidity comes into contact with the tea, it loses that consistency within a mere month. Once matcha has been left to sit undisturbed in a covered container too long, it will start losing it is flavour. After doing some research, we came to the conclusion that the Matcha begins to lose it is flavor after one year, even when leaving the packet or container unopened. While it will lose quality as an ingredient, it is generally safe to consume after its expiration date.
Matcha has a strong taste, is never overly bitter, and it is definitely something that you can tolerate. While it might not be of the best flavor, drinking aged matcha is fine, provided that the ingredients are mould-free. You may not like the taste of stale Matcha, but if it does not have mold or other mildew growing on it, then it is not harmful. Matcha is an amazing ingredient to make food with, and being a little bit stale becomes a lot less of an issue that way.
| Matcha Powder | In the pantry (60-68°F) |
| Opened matcha powder | 5 weeks |
| Unopened matcha powder | 12 months |
At the same time, native Japanese people who regularly consume Matcha claim that it does not taste the same after the powder has expired. It is also a fact that once a Matcha powders expiration date has passed, it can taste with fewer aromatics and softer flavors compared to one consumed right away, 3-4 weeks after it is opened. The reason for this is because matcha powder is prepared by grinding dried tea leaves, like Tea and Coffee, and when it is not consumed over long periods, it naturally loses the aroma, although is suitable to be consumed as tea and coffee.
To learn about Can You Put Creamer In Tea, then check out this article.
Matcha loses the flavor in the first weeks, whereas the bagged tea retains the flavour much longer. It is important to note that sealed matcha will lose flavor as well when sitting on a shelf. Once you crack the matcha, it has a shelf life of four weeks, at which point it loses color, taste, and nutritional value through degradation. Opened Matcha may only last for up to four weeks, after which it loses its color, taste, and degrades in quality.
Once opened, if you are careful to store the Matcha in a cool, dark place, it is best to use it up to 5 weeks. Let your unopened matcha fully thaw at room temperature before breaking the seal, so that the ingredients are not exposed to moisture. Always remember to allow the Matcha 24 hours to re-rise to room temperature before opening, or condensation will form and spoil the tea.
There are things you can do to help matcha last longer, but it is generally a good general rule to use as soon as you are able after breaking the seal on your container. Properly storing matcha will prolong its shelf life, allowing you to consume the tea at a rate that works for you.
It might sound like a comprehensive endeavor to store matcha green tea powder correctly, but that small bit of extra effort will be well worth it. So, you definitely need to be aware of all things related to your Matcha Storage Conditions & Shelf Life.
If you think that your Matcha is not quite up for having pure, or, to put it another way, its freshness has expired, then there are some other ways you can put it to good use. If your matcha gets wet and drys again, it turns into a solid brick of aged tea, which is not great for drinking. Matcha does not get worse and it does not get unusable, but over a period of time, it does not hold the same quality. While it does not necessarily get worse, matcha is not quite as delicious and rewarding once it has been sitting around for a long time.
A bad Matcha is usually imbalanced, with one predominant matcha taste that is so strong it tastes bad. Once you know the matcha has become boring, begin using Matcha as an additional ingredient when making various types of breads and pastries.
How do I know if my matcha has gone bad?
In the beginning, the scent of the Matcha is not too strong. However, when the Matcha becomes stale, its aroma becomes almost non-existent, or it gradually takes on the smell of its surroundings. One of the last ways to tell if it is going stale is if the texture changes from a fluffy fine powder to a thick crumbly powder when it is starting to go stale.
How long does matcha stay good for?
It is estimated that matcha powder will last for approximately one year when it is stored properly. As soon as your Matcha is opened, enjoy it within one month to maintain its flavour and health benefits. This is because air, odours, heat, and humidity will quickly degrade the powder.
Can bad matcha make you sick?
Tannins have some advantages, such as reducing inflammation and assisting in blood sugar regulation, but they can also irritate your natural digestion since they interfere with enzyme activity. Matcha can briefly increase our systems’ levels of stomach acid and disturb our stomach lining when consumed on an empty stomach.