out of date tea bags

[afcjan]

would you drink them. just clearing out one of the kitchen cupboards (yes I have more than one) and found some tea bags out of date by about 6 months.

the moral is shall I chuck em.. or r they ok. I am all for getting shot of them but in this current climate etc. etc. I ask the panel what they think.............

thank u

[BigDave44]

Tea does go off - but I would hve thought six months was OK. It doesn't cost much to try one of them, and throw it away if it doesn't taste right

[4getmenot]

what is the date on them, I'm sure tea bags have a really long shelf life. they must be ancient

[Rollo]

All that will happen is that the taste of the tea may be not as good as when thee bags were first bought. They won't poison you.

Try one. I doubt you will notice any difference.

[paddywak]

If the box is still sealed and they've been stored properly they should be ok, after all they don't have a magic switch that makes them go off on a certain date, but if you have any doubts throw them out

[DaisyMae]

The important th'ing about food labels is whether it says 'use by' or 'best before'. Use by means just that, it is not safe to use afterwards and is usually put on dairy produce, meat, fish or other perishable goods. Best before simply means that after a time the item will not taste at its best but it is perfectly usable even so.

[Rollo]

I just had a look at my box of tea bags. It says "best before end July 2008". I am still using them. I had a cup yesterday.

I don't drink much tea.

[LoftyLottie]

They will lose much of their flavour in time, as dried herbs do, but I really doubt whether they will 'go off', especially if they have not been opened.

[afcjan]

thank you everyone, they were unopened packets June and August 2008, and have now gone back in the kitchen cupboard, if they are still there this time next year then I will chuck them as obviously no one wants them.

[Gormless]

At work on the windowsill I have an opened packet of Tesco Finest Darjeeling tea bags, best before Sep 03. I am not fond of Darjeeling but I have just made a cup, and it tasted just as dreary as it did 6 years ago.

[afcjan]

what about coffee does the same rule apply?

[Rollo]

It applies to any similar "dry goods".

[afcjan]

oh Rollo u r a genius.

now I threw some cream away dated 26 December, unopened but kept the brandy butter.

[DaisyMae]

Coffee deteriorates much faster than tea. I always keep my unopened coffee in the freezer. Don't be tempted to buy coffee in bulk, it's a waste of money.

[daniela31]

Most dried goods are ok long past their use by date as long as they are stored in a sealed jar or box. They might lose a bit of the flavour, but it will not harm you.
:-)