Like green and white tea, yellow tea is only lightly oxidized by the manufacturer. This means that the shelf life of yellow tea is relatively short, and the tea will lose its best qualities if stored for long under less than ideal conditions.

"Ideal conditions" in the case of yellow tea means that it should be stored in a dry, dark, and preferably cool place. It is often recommended that the tea be kept in an airtight container, be it a tin or a plastic container of the Tupperware variety. These factors will slow the oxidation process, and the tea will remain fresh for longer.

For larger quantities of yellow tea, it can sometimes be a good idea to divide the tea into smaller potions and store it in several airtight containers. That way, only some of the tea will be exposed to air every time the container is opened and closed.