How Long Does Matcha Stay Fresh For?
Maybe you have Matcha powder at home?
I do. I enjoy making myself a bowl from time to time, and every time I’m surprised at how fast Matcha powder loses its flavor. It’s not always easy to know if your tea is still any good.
So, how long does Matcha stay fresh for? While the general opinion is that unopened Matcha will stay relatively fresh at least 6 months after its production, the real answer is not so long (more like 30 days…).
And in this article, I will tell you why Matcha can’t really be stored for long. I will give you clear explanations on:
What should fresh Matcha taste like?
How long can you really keep it?
How to properly store your Matcha?
But first, let’s remind ourselves of Matcha’s basics.
What is Matcha?
Matcha is a Japanese Green tea made from tea leaves that have been ground into a fine powder. The powder is combined with hot water and whisked to create a frothy tea.
Matcha is unique for several reasons:
It has a distinct umami (savory) flavor
The tea particles are consumed (while brewed leaves are usually discarded)
It is packed with healthy antioxidants
What Does ¨Fresh Matcha¨ Mean?
Freshness is what you are looking for in unoxidized tea like Green tea. The best time to use Matcha is when it’s freshly ground. In fact, the Japanese used to drink matcha right after grinding.
Freshly ground Matcha:
Has a rich umami flavor (think savory broth) and vibrant green color
Is smooth and vegetal, with almost no bitterness
Note: If you feel like knowing more about Matcha’s flavor profile, try reading our Matcha Flavor Guide here.
The point is, this valuable freshness is quickly gone… Actually, you can already notice a difference in taste between 1-day-old and 1-month-old Matcha.
Does Matcha Actually Expire?
Technically, Matcha doesn't expire the same way other common foods do. But that doesn't mean it will last forever. Over time, Matcha will lose its flavor, color and overall quality.
So it's important to:
Use Matcha within a reasonable time frame (a few weeks after opening)
Store it correctly to keep it fresh as long as possible
How to Tell if Matcha Has Gone Bad?
Here are a few signs that your matcha may have gone bad:
It has lost its bright green color and turned into a dull yellow
The flavor is off (overly bitter taste)
It smells stale or musty
In general, Matcha that is more than a few months old is already past its prime.
Extra info: Your Matcha might not taste great because it’s old. But the bad taste can also come from a problem of quality, storage or preparation. You can take a look at our previous article Why Does Matcha Taste Bad to help you identify the origin of the problem.
How Long Does Matcha Stay Fresh Exactly?
I had to do a little bit of researches for this one. I mean, the answer is quite subjective. So I went and collected the opinion of people in the field...
What Most Matcha Tea Stores Say
I checked 20 popular online stores specializing in Matcha, reading their blogs and FAQ to find out their opinions on how long does Matcha stay fresh (mostly Japanese and American stores).
Here are the results:
Providing it was stored in optimum conditions:
40% of them thought unopened Matcha can stay fresh for at least 6 to 9 months after its production date.
Another 40% thought it could stay fresh for at least 1 year, if not more.
When talking about opened Matcha, it’s more around 2 to 3 months. So according to your typical Matcha shop, unopened Matcha can stay fresh for approximately 6 to 12 months.
What We Say
At Ooika, we also have our opinion. We happen to agree with the 5% who answered ¨less than 3 months¨. We would say you got 30 days to enjoy Matcha’s real freshness before it’s gone. And we have good reasons to say so.
Matcha is a delicate tea that starts degrading as soon as it’s ground:
Its powdered form makes it more exposed to the air than whole leaves, speeding up the oxidation of the tea (a bit like whole coffee beans vs ground coffee)
After 1 month, its flavor and vibrancy has already started to decrease
After 6 months, 30% of Matcha’s catechins (healthy antioxidant) are gone, and its flavor, aroma, and color have significantly faded
I don’t want to disappoint you… But the sad truth is most Matcha ground in Japan and exported to the USA are already 6 to 12 months old when you buy them. And while high-quality Matcha’s standard best-by date is around 3 to 6 months in Japan, Western brands often sell their Matcha with a shelf life of 1.5 to 2 years.
So sure, unopened Matcha can still be consumed 6 months or even 1 year after its production. But is it really fresh? I don’t think so…
How to Store Matcha Powder Properly
You can’t prevent Matcha from going stale. But with the proper storage conditions, you can slow down its degradation.
Be sure to store your Matcha in an airtight container in a cool place (The freezer or fridge are good options). Matcha should always be kept away from:
Air
Light
Heat
Humid environment
Strong odors
When stored properly, Matcha can keep for up to 6-12 months. But for the best flavor, try to use your tea as quickly as possible (The ideal is to drink it within the month). For more information, try reading our detailed guide on How to Store Matcha here.
Experience the Freshness of Matcha With Us
In short, Matcha tea powder can be consumed 6 to 12 months after its production date. But it will stay fresh only a few weeks from the time it is ground.
The problem is most Matcha in America are already super old when they hit the market. But not ours! Just like you would choose fresh bread over stale bread any day – Ooika chose to provide fresh Matcha, and nothing else.
If you wish to enjoy the freshness of Matcha, you might want to join our Matcha Mill Monthly subscription. Every month we mill our Matcha the traditional way right here in the USA. Your tea is sent out within 24 hours of grinding on the 1st of each month so you can experience Matcha the way it was meant to be enjoyed — overwhelmingly fresh.
