How to store ivan tea so that it does not turn into tasteless weed?

Anyone who has ever tasted a drink from a fireweed will surely appreciate its delicate taste and aroma. In order for these qualities to be at their best and maintained for a long time, it is necessary to properly store Ivan-tea (that's what it is popularly called).

Storage conditions

As practice shows, dried fireweed is best stored at a temperature of +15 to + 20 ° C. This means that he will be "comfortable" in almost any apartment. But humidity indicators should not exceed 70%, otherwise the grass may deteriorate. For this reason, you should not keep it in the kitchen, and indeed near any sources of moisture - taps, humidifiers, open windows.

It is also undesirable for direct sunlight to fall on the fireweed. They are able to heat the grass, raising its temperature to unbelievable values. Under such conditions, the essential oils will go rancid and evaporate faster, and it is they that give the broth the taste for which gourmets so value it.

Ideal container for Ivan tea

In a store, fireweights are most often sold either by weight, packing in kraft bags, or in the factory packaging - then it is in a sealed plastic bag, which is placed in a box of thin cardboard. Neither the first nor the second option can be called ideal, so the grass should be immediately transferred to a more suitable container upon arrival home.

You can find out about the advantages and disadvantages of all packages in which Ivan-tea is stored at home from the table:

Material of which the container is made	Benefits	disadvantages
Glass	It does not allow moisture and air to seep inside the can, which ensures better safety of willow tea.	It allows light to pass through, which, firstly, promotes the development of bacteria, and secondly, it has a bad effect on the palatability of a fireweed - it triggers chemical reactions that destroy aromatic substances.
	At the same time, the glass does not release the molecules of essential oils - they remain inside the package, so that the smell and taste of the grass do not change for a long time.
	In addition, this material is chemically inert - it does not react with any of the components of the fireweed.
Paper	The advantages of paper include perhaps its availability and low cost. It is completely unsuitable for long-term storage of dried herbs. For example, it can wrap a glass container to protect its contents from light.	Paper that is not intended for food purposes may contain harmful components. But the main disadvantage of this material is the ability to pass and accumulate moisture. If the room where Ivan-tea is stored is too damp, the grass will mold and become unsuitable for brewing.
Plastic	It does not leak moisture and does not allow the aroma to evaporate.	Creates a "greenhouse effect" that negatively affects the quality of the drink. In addition, most plastics are transparent.
the cloth	Linen and cotton bags can be used to store fireweed only in rooms where the humidity level is never too high. It is also advisable to place the bag in a small cabinet where there are no extraneous odors - this will create additional protection against the ingress of moisture and prevent the smell of grass from “running out”.	It absorbs and absorbs moisture, thereby shortening the shelf life of the herb, and also allows molecules of aromatic substances to leak out, which is why dry leaves lose their aroma.
	Such material is suitable only for short-term storage - no more than six months. The fabric does not have advantages as such.
Porcelain, clay	Limits the access of sunlight into the tank.	The only drawback is the lid - it is rarely leakproof, which means that moisture enters the container. The fireweed also loses its pleasant aroma.
	Provides a natural level of humidity.
	Unglazed products may allow air to pass through, but this does not affect the quality of willow tea during long-term storage.
Metal	Boxes and jars of tinplate are ideal for storing Ivan tea. They retain all the qualities of grass, and their separate plus is the presence of a tightly closing lid.	If a coffee can is used, it must be thoroughly washed and dried so that the tea does not become saturated with a foreign smell.

It turns out that dried grass can be stored either in a glass jar wrapped in paper or in a clay vessel. But best of all - in a tin made of food metal.

Shelf life

According to the technical conditions, Ivan-tea can be stored no longer than two years. In practice, some people keep it for 6 or even 10 years. They argue that since the fireweed is not just dried, but fermented, even during being in a closed container, processes called dry fermentation take place in it. From this, taste and smell only improve.

In order to store Ivan tea correctly, factors such as temperature and humidity should be taken into account, as well as ensuring the absence of direct sunlight and choosing a suitable container. In such conditions, it will be perfectly preserved for a long time.