The shelf life of yerba can vary depending on storage. Generally, it lasts beyond the expiration date if stored properly. Expiration dates indicate when a product is guaranteed to be at peak freshness and quality. Consuming yerba past this date may result in flavor and nutritional loss. Expiration dates serve as food safety guidelines. Yerba products typically have expiration dates on packaging. This does not mean you should discard expired yerba. Let’s examine what you need to know about whether yerba expires, storing it to maximize lifespan, and more.
Do yerba products expire?
You’ll find an expiration date printed on the packaging. The date’s lifespan is determined after packaging. With proper storage, yerba lasts one to two years before needing replacement. Proper storage means keeping it cool, dry, dark, away from light, moisture, and pantry items whose flavors can transfer. Storing it in an airtight container in a low temperature, dry, dark place is sufficient. Expiration stamps are usually on the bag’s side or top.
Three factors determine yerba’s quality. Look: It should be olive green with a thin sheen. Feel: It should feel buoyant and pliant. Leaves shouldn’t crumble. Smell: It should smell toasty, earthy, and mildly sweet.
Storing yerba properly
Storing yerba properly keeps it fresh for years. Failing to do so causes mold and flavor loss. Storage is crucial because technically, it doesn’t expire unless mold grows. But over time, flavor diminishes. Here is how to store yerba correctly:
The shelf life depends on storage. It lasts 1-2 years unopened if stored in a cool, dry place away from light and moisture. Expiration dates indicate peak freshness and safety. Consuming yerba past this date may mean quality loss.
Yerba originates from South America. It makes you feel caffeinated.
To determine if yerba has gone stale, check color and texture. It should be olive green with a thin matte sheen. The leaves should feel buoyant and pliant, not dry. Smell for roast, earthy notes.
When preparing yerba with a tea strainer instead of a gourd, the serving size is 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces of water. So 1 kilogram provides around 250 servings, lasting over half a year with daily use.
The origins contain folklore. It became popular across South America over time, and is now consumed globally.
Yerba can be enjoyed continuously for hours by adding more leaves or water. It is often drunk socially. The tradition is part of the ritual.
For longest use, wait between pours but don’t leave wet yerba sitting.
Effects last 90 minutes. Store yerba in an airtight, opaque container in a cool, dry place to extend the 1-2 year shelf life. Check for mold, smell changes, discoloration. An unopened yerba bag lasts 1-3 years after the printed date if stored properly.
Drinking yerba raises eye pressure for 90 minutes, problematic for glaucoma patients. The caffeine provides energy, better mental focus.
To extend stimulation, avoid overdiffusing leaves. Using a tea strainer makes yerba last longer.
Wait 1-2 hours between gourd pours. Clogged yerba results from moisture; store gourd upside down to dry yerba between uses.
Yerba is an herb used to make an infusion. It contains the edible leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis tree native to parts of South America.
When stored in a cool, dark, dry place, yerba can last one to two years beyond any printed expiration date. An airtight container maintains freshness and prevents moisture absorption or flavor transfer. Refrigeration extends the shelf life.
Keys to preventing mold and taste loss
- Keeping yerba in sealed packaging or opaque container
- Storing in cool, dark, dry place away from humidity and sunlight
- Avoiding temperature fluctuations
- Checking for off smells, discoloration or mold
Drinking yerba in moderation provides energizing effects from natural caffeine without coffee side effects. Potential benefits like improved blood lipids and weight loss assistance require more research but show promise. While the infusion offers a unique flavor, yerba contains caffeine. Excessive amounts may pose risks so intake should be limited to 16 oz or less daily.