There are times when you are cleaning the kitchen shelves, and you come across many such ingredients which you completely forgot about or had been lying there for quite some time, and expired. This article is going to be about one such common ingredient- matcha powder. You might start your weekend with cleaning the rarely used kitchen shelf and might come across the sealed pack of matcha powder, which had an old expiry date. However, you tend to open the same and try to smell it and ask yourself – does matcha powder expire or not?
Matcha powder is one of the few ingredients like tea and coffee, which, if sealed pack and stored properly, will never expire and will always be good to consume. However, with time, its flavor and aroma may decrease. Hence, it can be said that the matcha powder does not expire with time.
However, one should always check the smell, color, and flavor of it before consuming it. This can give you an idea about your question – does matcha powder expire?
Table of Contents
Does Matcha Powder Expire?
Many people often have this question in their minds – does matcha powder expire or not. Well, the answer is no, but the condition is that it should be appropriately stored in a safe and dry place. But it is also a fact that when the expiry date of the matcha powder has been long gone, it may have less aroma and mild taste than the one that is immediately consumed within 3-4 weeks after opening.
How Long Is The Matcha Shelf Life?
Another very commonly asked question by people is that how long is the matcha shelf life?
The traditional Japanese people’s day that Matcha powder being a dry product will never go bad. This is because, without the presence of moisture in the food, the bacterium responsible for rotting the food items cannot grow. But at the same time, native Japanese who drink Matcha frequently say that once the powder expires, it does not taste the same.
The reasons behind the same are that Matcha Powder is prepared grounding the dry tea leaves just like Tea and Coffee, which if not consumed for a long time, will naturally lose its aroma even if it is fit for consumption. Therefore, if you were stressing over the question, ” Does matcha go bad, you have plenty of time to use it before it loses its natural taste. The high-quality matcha powder is known to have its flavor and smell for a long time.
What Is The Best Time To Drink Matcha Powder?
If you recently went to matcha store to pick powder for yourself, then you must be willing to know about the ideal time to drink the same. Before we tell you the ideal time, you should note that once the packet is opened, after 3-4 weeks, it will start to lose its taste and aroma, and this is why one should not delay consuming it so that he/she can experience the actual Matcha taste.
If you want to relish the best of Matcha Powder taste, then you should consume it within 2-3 weeks after opening the box.
The Expiration Date For Matcha Powder
Does matcha powder expire? Can one consume the matcha powder after six months of the expiry date?
If you also have such questions running in your mind, then here’s the answer. The expiry date mentioned on the box of matcha powder is to inform people that it will taste the best until that day. However, if the Matcha Powder box is completely sealed and passed its expiry date, it is still fit for consumption, but it will not have the same freshness and aroma.
To all those people who want to know how long does Matcha last, the answer is it can last for a long time if appropriately stored where moisture cannot enter inside the Matcha Powder box. You need to keep in mind that if the powder is not stored correctly, it may get spoiled even before a month and become bad for consumption. Usually, the expiry date and the instruction to store are always printed on the Matcha box.
Bagged Tea Vs. Matcha Tea
Many people get confused when it comes to what is best – when it is bagged tea vs. matcha. There are many differences between the two of them, even though both are tea. The matcha powder will lose its flavor and smell very soon compared to the usual teabag. This is simply because of the different methods of preparing and storing the same.
The preparation method for both is different, and it can be said that it is easy to prepare matcha tea. The tea using a tea bag is made by submerging the tea leaves in the boiling water for a little while and then drains out the tea leaves.
On the other hand, for matcha tea, one has to dissolve the matcha powder in hot water, and it is ready to drink. The best part about matcha tea is that with every sip of tea, one will be able to get the full flavor of matcha leaves.
Related Reading:
We curated a list of 15 popular green tea brands available in the Indian market.
How To Find Out If Matcha Powder Is Fresh Or Not?
When people go to the Matcha store, they often ask the salesperson to tell them how to find out if the matcha powder is fresh. Read the below-mentioned details to find out if it is fresh or not.
1. Color
If you want to know about the freshness of the matcha powder, you can do so by looking at the color. Usually, matcha tea is very famous for its vibrant green color. If you find the green color vibrant and bright, this means the tea powder is fresh.
However, if you notice that the color is faded green or pale grey, then the tea is stale but still fit for consumption. But the color is not always the accurate indicator of the freshness of the tea, and in today’s date, many matcha powder brands make use of green dye color as well.
2. Smell
If you are trying matcha for the first, then you will notice that matcha powder has a great aromatic smell when it is new (fresh). However, as time passes, it will start to lose its aroma after being exposed to air. If you notice that your matcha powder smells like dust, then it can be said that it is stale.
3. Taste
With time, the taste and smell of the matcha powder start to fade. If you notice that your matcha tea has a mild taste, then it is an indication that it has become old. People can verify the same by tasting the fresh matcha tea, and the matcha tea prepared using the old powder.
4. Froth
The next easy way to check if the matcha tea is stale or not is by seeing the froth covering the tea. When fresh matcha tea is mixed well with hot water, one can notice a delightful froth coming on the top. However, this froth will not be present if the matcha tea is stale.
5. Texture
Last but not least, another great way to check if the matcha tea is stale or not is by having a look at the texture of the tea. If the matcha powder used is fresh, then the tea would be fluffy, soft, and whiskable in appearance. However, once it is opened and moisture comes in contact with the tea, it will lose this texture in just a month.
How to store Matcha properly?
Do you want to know how to store matcha properly? If yes, before we tell you how to store the same properly, let us also tell you that as soon as the matcha powder comes in contact with the moisture, it will get spoiled and lose its flavor. Therefore, if you want to use your matcha powder correctly, make sure you store it in such an airtight container where it does not come in contact with the air.
In case if you do not have an airtight container, then you can also use an aluminum container or simple airtight zip pouches that are readily available in the market. Most of the time, matcha powder comes packed in an airtight container, but if not, then you should immediately transfer the powder in a sealed bag/ container.
If you live in a place where there is a lot of humidity, then store it in a cool and dry place. Traditional Japanese people say that matcha powder should be kept in a dark place. The best place to store the matcha powder is in the freezer if the powder box is not yet opened. Readers should note that once the tea-box is opened, it should not be stored in the freezer.
Lastly, you need to keep the matcha powder in such a place where you can see it in the kitchen so that you do not forget to use the same in just a month after it is opened.
What are the health benefits of drinking Matcha tea?
Now that this article has provided answers to various questions that people commonly have regarding the matcha tea, let us tell our readers about the health benefits one can get from drinking.
- Matcha tea is very high in antioxidants. This means that it helps prevent the risk of cancer, improves the digestive system, and aids in weight loss.
- Matcha tea is great for the liver, as it removes the toxins from the body and fastens the process of nutrient consumption by the organs of the body. This matcha tea is also known to decrease the level of harmful liver enzymes, which results in liver failure.
- If you want to make sure that your heart is healthy, then matcha tea is the best for your heart, and it also helps to keep the blood sugar level & cholesterol levels low in the body, which further results in the better functioning of the heart.
- Matcha tea helps people to reduce weight.
Related Reading:
We listed all the different flavors of Lipton green tea.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here we have answered a few interesting FAQs about does matcha powder expire.
1. How long is matcha powder good for after the expiration date?
The matcha powder tastes best when consumed within one month from the date of opening the pack. The longer you keep the pack open, the ingredients come in contact with air and lose their properties.
2. How do you know if matcha has expired?
To know whether the matcha is fresh or stale, look for the texture and the color. The fresh matcha has a strong aroma and is green in color, while the stale matcha has no aroma. As matcha powder gets older, it starts turning slightly brownish in color.
3. Can you get sick from expired matcha?
Matcha, just like other teas, does not have an expiration date. However, it does lose its qualities and health benefits after some time.
4. Does the matcha powder require refrigeration?
To keep matcha powder fresh for a longer time, store it in an airtight container and keep it in a refrigerator. If not refrigerated, matcha powder when exposed to air and heat may lose its quality within a short period of time.
In Conclusion
You might have got answers to all the questions about matcha powder starting right from if matcha powder expires to the various health benefits of the drinking matcha tea.
* If you do agree with our review, please give it a thumbs up! And, tell us which one is your favorite from this list. If you don’t, please tell us why!
* Food & Beverage is a constantly evolving segment with new products launched daily. Our endeavor here is to help shoppers buy better. If there’s a product you would like us to review tell us by clicking here.
* Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.
* No part of this review is sponsored by any brand. All expenses were borne by us.