# Question about Old Tea **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-old-tea/481756 "2009-01-17T16:53:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-old-tea/481756/1 "2009-01-17T16:53:14Z")
While cleaning house I discovered a box of tea. The tea is in foil-lined bags, which were sealed, and then sealed again in plastic. Carbon dating and analysis of the strata this object was found in puts the age around 11 years. Question 1: Is this safe to drink? Question 2: Any chance this is still drinkable? I feel kind of bad for “losing” this, as it’s quite nice tea I didn’t drink when it was new. If, however, it is salvageable that’s about a pound and a half of loose-leaf tea I don’t have to buy right now. ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-old-tea/481756/2 "2009-01-17T17:09:25Z")
1. Yes 2. Depends on your personal criteria. Most likely stale. ---
**Author:** ![vison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-old-tea/481756/3 "2009-01-17T17:28:35Z")
1. Of course it’s “safe”. What could go bad? 2. Why don’t you make a pot and try it? If it’s good, keep using it, if it’s not, jeez, you know, turf it.