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After opening the tea packaging, besides finding tea leaves, you may also notice two small packets inside. Most people tend to leave these two packets inside the tea packaging, believing that they help keep the tea leaves fresh. Is that really the case?
What are these two small packets?
The packet that comes into contact with the tea leaves is called a “deoxidizer,” while the packet placed outside the aluminum foil bag containing the tea leaves is called a “desiccant.”
Which packet should be discarded first?
Discard the “deoxidizer” packet and retain the “desiccant” packet.
What is a “deoxidizer”?
As the name suggests, a “deoxidizer” absorbs oxygen, thereby eliminating oxygen from the environment. The principle is that during the oxidation process of iron powder, oxygen is absorbed. It can only be used once, and once the tea packaging is opened, the “deoxidizer” is no longer effective. You can feel clumps forming inside the packet when it`s no longer active. By the way, hand warmers are essentially large deoxidizer packs that rely on the oxidation of iron powder to generate heat.
What is a “desiccant”?
A “desiccant” typically appears transparent with many small beads inside. Its function is to absorb moisture from the air to keep food dry and extend its shelf life. Transparent beads of silica gel may also contain blue indicator beads. When the blue indicator beads turn from blue to transparent or pink, it indicates that the desiccant has absorbed enough moisture and needs to be replaced.
Factors that affect the flavor of tea include light, moisture, air, and temperature. Aluminum foil bags can block out light and oxygen, desiccants can reduce moisture, and deoxidizers can remove oxygen. When all these details are taken into account, they can collectively help preserve the flavor of tea leaves for a longer period.
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