Prep

How long do tea bags last?

FoodKeeper gives tea bags 18 to 36 months unopened, as a US guide to quality. Once opened, that's 6 to 12 months in the cupboard.

These are US figures, for quality. They come from USDA FoodKeeper. The date on a UK pack comes first, and Food Standards Agency rules take priority: never eat food after its use-by date. Best before is about quality.

How to store it

Keep them in a sealed jar or tub, away from coffee and spices, because tea takes on smells.

Keep it cool and dry. USDA says temperatures below 85°F (about 29°C) are best, and to avoid anywhere above or beside the cooker, under the sink, or in a damp garage or cellar. Reseal opened packs, or decant them into something airtight.

What to look for

Old tea tastes flat. That's a quality loss, not a safety one. Throw out any that are damp or mouldy.

USDA says spoiled food develops an off smell, taste or texture. The FSA says you can smell food with a best before date to see if it has spoiled, but that the sniff test isn't safe for food with a use-by date.

Worth knowing

At 18 to 36 months unopened, tea is one of the longest-lasting comforts you can keep. Once opened, FoodKeeper gives 6 to 12 months.

Similar foods

From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.

How it works

FoodKeeper is USDA's food storage database. Its figures are guides to quality for food stored at cool room temperature, not safety cut-offs, and we show them as USDA gives them. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase. Opened times start when you open the pack.

There's no UK shelf-life dataset, so these figures are from the US. The date on your pack comes first. On a UK pack, use by is about safety and best before is about quality, so never rely on this page to go past a use-by date.

Common questions

How long do tea bags last unopened?

18 to 36 months, according to USDA FoodKeeper, as a guide to best quality. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase.

How long do tea bags keep once opened?

6 to 12 months in the cupboard. FoodKeeper gives no fridge figure.

Can I eat tea bags after the best before date?

Best before is about quality, so tea bags past that date are usually safe, but may not be as good. A use-by date is different: never eat food after it.

What should I look for before using tea bags?

Old tea tastes flat. That's a quality loss, not a safety one. Throw out any that are damp or mouldy.

Sources

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Checked on 2 November 2026. This is an independent tool and not official advice. See sources and method.

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