How to store fireweed so that it does not turn into tasteless weed?
Anyone who has ever tried a drink made from fireweed will probably appreciate its delicate taste and aroma. In order for these qualities to be at their best and preserved for a long time, you need to properly store fireweed tea (that’s what people call it).
Storage conditions
As practice shows, dried fireweed is best stored at a temperature of +15 to +20°C. This means that he will be “comfortable” in almost any apartment. But humidity levels should not exceed 70%, otherwise the grass may deteriorate. For this reason, you should not keep it in the kitchen, or indeed near any sources of moisture - taps, humidifiers, open windows.
It is also undesirable for fireweed to be exposed to direct sunlight. They are capable of heating the grass, raising its temperature to prohibitive levels. Under such conditions, essential oils will turn rancid and evaporate faster, but they are the ones who give the decoction the taste for which gourmets value it so much.
Ideal container for Ivan tea
In stores, fireweed is most often sold either by weight, packaged in craft bags, or in factory packaging - then it is in a sealed plastic bag, which is placed in a thin cardboard box. Neither the first nor the second option can be called ideal, so the grass should be transferred to a more suitable container immediately upon arrival home.
You can learn about the advantages and disadvantages of all packages in which Ivan tea is stored at home from the table:
| Material from which the container is made | Advantages | Flaws |
|---|---|---|
| Glass | It does not allow moisture and air to seep inside the jar, which ensures better preservation of fireweed. | It transmits light, which, firstly, promotes the development of bacteria, and secondly, has a bad effect on the taste of fireweed - chemical reactions are triggered in it, as a result of which aromatic substances are destroyed. |
| At the same time, the glass does not release the molecules of essential oils - they remain inside the package, so the smell and taste of the herb do not change for a long time. | ||
| In addition, this material is chemically inert - it does not react with any of the components of fireweed. | ||
| Paper | The advantages of paper include its availability and low cost. It is completely unsuitable for long-term storage of dried herbs. For example, you can wrap it around a glass container to protect its contents from light. | Paper that is not intended for food use may contain harmful components. But the main disadvantage of this material is its ability to transmit and accumulate moisture. If the room where fireweed is stored is too damp, the herb will become moldy and become unsuitable for brewing. |
| Plastic | Does not allow moisture to pass through and does not allow the aroma to evaporate. | Creates a “greenhouse effect”, which negatively affects the quality of the drink. In addition, most plastics are transparent. |
| Textile | Linen and cotton bags can only be used to store fireweed in rooms where the humidity level is never too high.It is also advisable to place the bag in a small cabinet where there are no foreign odors - this will create additional protection against moisture penetration and prevent the smell of the grass from “fizzle out.” | It allows and absorbs moisture, thereby shortening the shelf life of the herb, and also allows molecules of aromatic substances to seep out, causing dry leaves to lose their aroma. |
| This material is only suitable for short-term storage - no more than six months. The fabric has no advantages as such. | ||
| Porcelain, clay | Limits the access of sunlight inside the container. | The only drawback is the lid - it is rarely sealed, which means moisture penetrates into the container. Fireweed also loses its pleasant aroma. |
| Provides a natural level of humidity. | ||
| Unglazed products can allow air to pass through, but this does not affect the quality of fireweed tea during long-term storage. | ||
| Metal | Boxes and jars made of food-grade tin are ideal for storing fireweed. They retain all the qualities of the grass, and their separate advantage is the presence of a tightly closing lid. | If a coffee tin is used, it must be thoroughly rinsed and dried to prevent the tea from becoming saturated with foreign odors. |
It turns out that you can store dried herbs either in a glass jar wrapped in paper or in a clay vessel. But the best thing is in a food-grade metal tin.
Best before date
According to technical conditions, Ivan tea can be stored for no longer than two years. In practice, some people store it for 6 or even 10 years. They claim that since fireweed is not just dried, but fermented, even while in a closed container, processes called dry fermentation occur in it.This only improves the taste and smell.
To store fireweed correctly, you should take into account factors such as temperature and humidity, ensure there is no direct sunlight and choose a suitable container. In such conditions it will be perfectly preserved for a long time.
I really love Ivan tea. I don’t keep it for a very long time, but if you don’t remove it from the paper packaging, the taste quickly disappears. That’s why I put fresh fireweed in a glass jar with a rubberized lid. Now I will also put it in a dark place.