The objective of consuming green tea is to derive the greatest health benefits that the brew has to offer. However, the tea has a fairly short shelf life.

To get the greatest benefits, it should be drunk as quickly after picking as possible. The actual harvest date and shelf life is usually written on the packaging by the production company.

Note that green tea has a shorter short shelf life when compared with other blends. It will generally stay fresh up to six months after harvesting, when exposed to open air.

Yet, there are certain green varieties that will spoil after just four months from the harvest date.

Therefore, keeping tea fresh for consumption begins in the countries in which it is harvested and involves caring for the tea when it is shipped thousands of miles from the harvest site before it reaches the customer.

When transporting green tea on long journeys most companies (but unfortunately not all) seal the tea in packages filled with a nitrogen gas. The gas replaces oxygen and prevents the brew from oxidation.

When sold in packages, green tea should be sealed in a bag from which the oxygen has been removed.

The contents of the bag should then be used within two months to ensure freshness and full green tea benefits when consumed.

There is significant difference between a green tea that has been properly packaged and one that has been exposed to air for much of its life.

Both the flavor and the green tea benefits are compromised.

Always read the packaging before purchasing and check the harvest date. The better providers give this information.

Remember, the fresher the tea, the greater the taste and green tea benefits.

This article was written by Mike Linder, author of a definitive guide to green teas and their health benefits.