Yes, drinking 20-year-old tea is generally okay, provided it has been stored correctly.
Factors Affecting Drinkability
The safety and quality of older tea depend on several factors:
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Storage: Tea stored in a cool, dry, dark place away from strong odors will retain its quality much longer than tea exposed to light, moisture, or strong smells. Sources like Reddit's r/tea community (https://www.reddit.com/r/tea/comments/8a1jnr/can_i_drink_20_year-old-tea/) discuss the importance of proper storage for long-term tea preservation.
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Visual Inspection: Before drinking, inspect the tea for mold, discoloration, or any unusual growths. If anything looks amiss, discard the tea. A StackExchange post on food safety (https://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/124374/can-i-drink-black-tea-that-s-13-years-past-its-best-by-date) emphasizes the importance of visual inspection before consumption.
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Smell Test: A strong, unpleasant odor indicates spoilage. If the tea smells musty, rancid, or otherwise off-putting, it should be discarded.
Tea's Shelf Life: A Matter of Quality, Not Safety
While older tea might be safe to consume, its quality will degrade over time. The flavor, aroma, and overall experience will likely be diminished. A website dedicated to tea (https://www.sommerier.com/what-happens-to-tea-over-time-what-can-you-do-with-old-tea/) notes that the flavor of tea reduces over time, but doesn't automatically mean it is unsafe. Another site (https://artfultea.com/blogs/tea-wisdom/does-tea-expire-how-long-tea-really-lasts-for) also points out that while quality diminishes over time, it remains drinkable unless spoiled.
Conclusion
If properly stored, 20-year-old tea is likely safe to drink. However, its flavor and aroma might be significantly altered. Always inspect and smell the tea before consuming it.
