Tea is relatively forgiving, and rarely spoils as long as it's stored properly. Old tea may simply be less flavorful and fresh than new tea, and will brew up a weaker cup with a stale flavor. In this sense, tea doesn't actually have an “expiration date” after which it will be unsafe to drink.
In short, both tea leaves and tea bags retain good quality for about 6 to 12 months past the best-by date.
As mentioned, tea bags do not expire. Neither does loose leaf tea. Dry tea leaves and bags are typically good for a whopping two years before quality starts rolling down a hill. All teas made from the camellia sinensis plant, whether green or black teas, will begin to lose their flavor over time [3].
For its part, the American Academy of Pediatrics discourages consumption of caffeinated tea (and almost all other caffeinated beverages) before age 12 due to its effects on blood pressure and heart rates. For those 12 to 18 years old, the academy recommends limiting caffeine consumption to 100 milligrams a day.
However, dried tea leaves that are kept dry will not spoil, and as long as they are stored away from heat, water, light and air, the flavor and phytochemical content can be maintained for up to two years. The more fermented and intact the dried leaves are, the longer they will last.
Tea is relatively forgiving, and rarely spoils as long as it's stored properly. Old tea may simply be less flavorful and fresh than new tea, and will brew up a weaker cup with a stale flavor. In this sense, tea doesn't actually have an “expiration date” after which it will be unsafe to drink.
Experts do not recommend tea for kids since sweetened and caffeinated drinks often cause dental cavities. Children should consume alternatives to caffeinated drinks, such as milk with chocolate powder or other pediatric supplements. Experts also recommend keeping caffeine intake minimum for adolescents and adults.
Summary to Can Children Drink Tea and Coffee
Our article has determined, once and for all, the question to “Is Tea bad for kids?” While there are a few unknowns, it is best to err on the side of caution and, therefore, you shouldn't give it to children under 12-years-old.
There is no accepted safe amount of caffeine for kids under the age of 12. When deciding whether to give a child tea that contains caffeine, experts recommend being cautious.
Steep the tea for too long, and you'll end up with an unpleasantly strong, bitter cup. Steep the tea for too short a time, and you'll have a weak, flavorless cup of tea. Making matters even more complicated, different teas require different steep times in order to bring out their best flavor.
Tea bags can grow mold on either the tea bag or the tea itself. Mold is found in any environment that contains a high level of humidity. Mold can be prevented in tea bags by keeping them in an airtight container and keeping your tea in a low-humidity environment.
The Compost Pile: One of the easiest uses for your unused, unwanted, and/or expired tea bags is to simply add the tea bags to your compost pile. Tea bags and brewed tea alike can aid the decomposition within your compost pile. You should definitely remember to put tea and tea bags in the compost, not the garbage.
Similar to the comments above about "freshness" tea loses it's medicinal qualities as it ages. If you're looking to drink green tea for it's health benefits the quality matters. Green tea that is more than 6 months old has a significant decrease in the amount of beneficial antioxidants the body can absorb.
Even though honey doesn't have an expiration date, it can still undergo natural changes. The National Honey Board says that over time honey may “darken and lose its aroma and flavor or crystallize,” depending on changes in temperature.
"Technically sugar never spoils," explain food safety experts from the US Department of Agriculture's Food Service and Inspection Service, though they do add, "for best quality it is recommended to use within two years of opening."
Typically, it's best for children under 13 not to engage in romantic relationships as they are still developing emotionally and cognitively. Healthy friendships are encouraged for teenagers between 13 and 15, but romantic relationships could be too much for them to handle.
Caffeine Tolerance for Kids
It is commonly recommended that for kids 4-6 years old to have a maximum intake of 45 mg of caffeine a day which is about a single weak cup of green tea (1 mug cup of 8 oz or 236 ml). After 10-12 years old, it does not hurt to let them have a cup or even more (1 mug cup of 8 oz or 236 ml).
For kids and teens, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests caution. Adolescents ages 12 to 18 should cap daily caffeine intake at 100 mg (the equivalent of about one cup of coffee, one to two cups of tea, or two to three cans of soda).
In moderation, tea is good for kids who are older than toddlers. Children aged under two years are very young and too weak to ingest tea's nutrition and are susceptible to the adverse effects of caffeine; as for kids, any type of bad effects can be magnified.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no caffeinated coffee, tea, soda, sports drinks or other products for children under the age of 12, while adolescents between the ages of age 12 and 18 should limit their intake to less than 100 milligrams per day – about the size of an old-fashioned cup of coffee.
Child nutritionist Sarah Almond Bushell tells us that from the age of 4 children can safely drink 1-2 cups of unsweetened weak tea brewed from tea bags each day. Although tea does contain caffeine, it's in in lesser amounts and so is not as detrimental as coffee.
Mold in Tea
If mold is growing on the tea, it's time to throw it out. Mold can be harmful to your health, so it's best not to take any chances. If there is mold then there is probably bacterial growth too. The short answer is, if you see any of these signs, it's best to throw out your brewed tea.
The best way to know for sure if your tea has gone bad is by smelling it. If it smells like rotten eggs or mold, then it's definitely time to throw it out. Also, over time mold may begin to grow on the surface, this is another sign that your tea has gone off and needs to be thrown away.
Scientists at the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health in Zurich, discovered that tea leaves contain compounds called polyphenols. These have a habit of bonding with calcium carbonate in tap water. And when this happens, a film tends to appear at the surface of the tea cup.