As a big fan of green tea and matcha, I’ve always found the taste of superior or ceremonial-grade green tea leaves incredibly calming. There’s something about the pure, earthy flavor that brings me joy and peace with every sip. Lately, I’ve had my eye on a premium Japanese brand called Keisuke Serizawa, a gold medal winner at the 2020 World Green Tea Contest. It’s a brand known for its exceptional quality and taste, and I’ve been longing to try it for quite some time.
The only thing that’s held me back from indulging is the price. At RM34.90 for a mere 50 grams, it felt like a splurge I couldn’t quite justify—until today. To my delight, there was finally a discount: buy one, get one free! Without hesitation, I jumped on the offer and purchased two packets of this premium green tea.
However, there’s a catch. The expiry date on both packets is set for November 24, 2024. Despite this, I went ahead with the purchase. Why? Because I believe that when it comes to tea, the concept of an expiration date is more of a guideline than a strict rule. Tea, especially high-quality varieties like pu-erh, can actually improve with age when stored correctly. In fact, carefully aged teas are some of the most expensive and sought-after teas in the world.
While drinking expired tea isn’t necessarily harmful, it may lose some of its original aroma and flavor. I’ve had this experience with expired matcha powder before—the vibrant green color turns yellowish, but the taste remains mostly unchanged. It didn’t impact my enjoyment of the tea, nor did it cause any issues with my health.
So, despite the impending expiration date, I’m thrilled with today’s purchase. I may even buy another set before the sale ends. After all, a tea lover like me can appreciate that while fresh tea is ideal, a slightly “expired” premium green tea will still bring a sense of calm and happiness. The joy of savoring a well-brewed cup is always worth it to me—expiration date or not.
My best buy of the week!
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