How to Store Dried Herbs
Question:
Leslie asks, "What is the shelf life of a tea mixture? Is there a proper way to store a jar of herbs to keep its potency? Can you prolong its shelf life in the freezer?"
Response:
Great question! I think about this every time I'm in a store that's selling bulk herbs. How long have those herbs been sitting on the shelf? If it's not a high-traffic space, the answer is...probably too long. I love co-ops and cute general stores, but I will say they can often be frequent culprits of this. It's a nice aesthetic vibe to have lots of jars stocked with herbs, but they need to be stored out of direct sunlight and have a tracking system in place (hello, spreadsheets and lot numbers!) to make sure the herbs are as fresh as possible, especially in a retail space.
Personally, I store my herbs in clear glass jars only because they are 99% out of the sun, and because I have a public apothecary space and like to be able to show people what the herbs look like. I also have enough of a turnover to keep herbs super fresh. [Check out my current inventory of herbs here].
If you're just storing herbs at home, I recommend tinted glass or labeled and tightly sealed dark bags (paper bags are fine, but you want to be able to ensure it has a good seal - I'll save good bags from other blends I buy to reuse).
If clear glass jars are the only thing you have access to, just make sure they're in a pantry or otherwise out of direct light. Label what the herbs are and the date that you got them! I never keep dried herbs longer than a year. I know it's hard to compost herbs and feel like you're wasting them (trust me, I get it!), but if an herb isn't at it's peak, it's not going to be as potent medicine for you. Roots and barks you can sometimes keep for over a year, but I’m of the mindset to resist holding onto herbs for too long. If you have the medicine, use it! Make yourself a daily tea blend, give herbs to friends, play around with your ‘kitchen-witching’ and experiment with trying new herbal recipes [check out Learning Herbs for some inspiration].
If you're unsure how long an herb has been on your shelf for, smell it! Crush it between your fingers. Does it still give off a strong scent, or is it hard to tell? Look at it. Is it lightly colored/faded and slightly brown? If it is, it probably needs to go. If it still has good color and smells 'herby' when crushed, it's most likely still good to use.
As far as storing dried herbs in the freezer to prolong shelf life, go for it! It’s not a strategy I use personally because I like having things immediately visible and ready to go, but is something that totally works. Again, just make sure you label it and keep it organized so you don’t forget what you have on hand.
If you are looking to dive in deeper on this, our friends at the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine wrote a great article about herb storage for all different types of types of preparations. Check it out here.
Key takeaways:
Dried herbs are best used within 1 year
If you’re unsure of how long you’ve had an herb or tea blend, crush + smell for freshness, assess color potency (or lack thereof)
You can freeze herbs to prolong their shelf life, but it’s not necessary (if you do, make sure to label + date)
Always store herbs in a cool, dry space, in an airtight container, and out of direct sunlight
