Tea is one of the most popular drinks in the world. Late at night while you’re snuggled under the covers on a cold wintery night, a cup of tea in your hands is the most comforting feeling. However, plenty of tea drinkers fear the recent campaigns and warnings about moldy tea bags and the health risks that come with it.
Tea bags are capable of growing mold. Often times this means that the tea is expired or has gone bad and is no longer safe to drink. Mold growth can be sped up depending on the storage circumstances and type of tea. The best way to avoid fast mold growth by storing tea in a well controlled storage enviornment.
It’s important to know what causes mold growth on a tea bag and how to avoid this bacteria in the first place. Let’s get into all the details about the relation between this popular hot drink and the potential moldyness it can garner.
What Causes Mold on a Tea Bag?
Mold growth on tea bags is very similar to mold growth on any other item. It all depends on the storage environment. Tea does not commonly go bad, nor does it commonly grow mold, but when exposed to moisture for extended periods of time during storage, it is susceptible just like everything else.
Mold requires three things to grow: temperature, humidity, and airflow. This is why most tea boxes instruct you to store the tea in a cold and dry space. If even one of these three requirements is missing in the storage space, your tea will not grow moldy while waiting to be drunk.
Can I drink Moldy Tea?
While technically you can drink moldy tea, it is highly advised to NOT do so. In most cases you will be okay, and a few sips will not affect you given the strength of a person’s stomach acid, however there are plenty of unpleasant consequences of drinking moldy tea.
In some cases, drinking moldy tea will cause some digestive and bowel issues. To get rid of the toxin, you might experience diarrhea, naseau, fever, or shortness of breath. If these symptoms become severe seek a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
How Can I Tell if my Tea is Moldy?
Either the tea bag itself of the container the tea is held in can both grow mold. If you find the storage container has been contaminated you should throw away all of the tea housed there. However, mold can be on both the exterior and the interior of tea bags and will look different in both cases.
On the outside, whether it’s the tea bag or the storage container, the mold will commonly present as a soft and fluffy growth that is white, black, yellow, or blue. This is the easiest form of mold to spot and can be seen on many organic items that are past expiration.
Mold inside a tea bag is damp and you will be able to see it start seeping throughout the bag itself and seem like it has aready been used. Clumping tea leaves is the other clear sign of mold. Hold a fresh tea bag up to the light, give it a little shake, and watch individual leaves move. If they all move together there is mold inside.
You can also use your nose to detect the presence of mold. If you open your tea storage and find a musky, earthy smell coming out of it, the tea is expired or moldy and you should throw it out. The same goes for taste in case you don’t catch it beforehand.
How to Prevent Mold Growth
The best way to prevent mold growth is with storing the tea bags as recommended on their packaging. As we mentioned, mold needs the right temperature, humidity, and air flow or location to be able to grow. Without one of these thing the mold will not survive on organic material.
Temperature
The higher the temperature, the more opportunities for mold to grow. Higher temperatures mean more moisture in the air and more humidity as well. Those are both factors that contribute to excessive mold and fungi growth. Make sure to store your tea at room temperature and in a well-controlled environment.
Storage Container
Dark environments are mold’s favorite places to grow. However, the paradox comes when darkness is also best for tea storage.The best way to fight this conflict is to make sure that your storage container is air tight. This prevents any extra moisture or oxygen from coming into contact with your tea and spurring mold growth on the bags.
Humidity
The ideal humidity for tea storage, and all organic items, is between 30% and 50%. Any higher than 50% is a prime mold growing environment. Kitchens, laundry rooms, and bathrooms tend to be the most humid spots in the house so avoid putting tea in these rooms. Humidity is best controlled through ventilation and dehumidifiers.
Tea Type
Herbal teas are the easiest teas to be contaminated with mold. The variety of ingredients in their combinations widely varies and thus the rate at which the mold will grow is not concrete. The same goes for organic tea since the ingredients in those are grown without pesticides or chemicals to prevent fungal and mold contamination.
Final Thoughts
Tea bags can grow mold. It is unhealthy for you to consume moldy tea and you should be checking the bags should you suspect they have been in storage for a while. Common signs of mold are clear exterior growth, nasty smells, soggy bags, and clumped tea leaves. If you spot these signs of mold throw away the tea and it’s storage container immediately.
The best way to prevent tea is through proper storage. Make sure the tea is in the correct temperature, storage environment and humidity setting. Some teas are more susceptible to mold growth than other considering their ingredient list, packaging, and growth cycles. But that shouldn’t stop you from drinking your favorite hot beverage at any time in the day.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.