How to Store Nordiska Örter Herbs to Preserve Their Freshness
At Nordiska Örter, I take great care to make sure you receive the freshest herbs possible. I harvest them at the peak of their season and dry them quickly at a low temperature. This helps keep their bright colors, strong aroma, and delicate essential oils. Unlike mass-produced herbs, that may sit in storage for months, to then be shipped accross the world before reaching you, the herbs I procude are freshly dried and packaged up right before shipping. If you order in summer, your herbs were just harvested a few days or week ago! This is why proper storage is so important. With the right care, you can keep them fresh and potent for a long time.
What Impacts the Freshness of Herbs?
Many things can affect the quality of dried herbs. Here are the biggest threats:
- Light – Sunlight and strong indoor lights can break down essential oils in herbs, making them lose their color, taste, and smell. Herbs left in direct light fade quickly.
- Oxygen – Too much air exposure causes oxidation, which weakens the smell and flavor of herbs.
- Moisture – Dried herbs must stay dry. If they absorb moisture, they can become moldy or clump together.
- Heat – Storing herbs near heat sources like stoves or ovens makes them lose their potency faster.
- Airflow – If herbs are kept in open shelves or loose containers, they can dry out too much and absorb unwanted smells or moisture.
Best Storage Methods to Keep Nordiska Örter Herbs Fresh
To keep your herbs in top condition, store them in a dry, dark, and cool place with minimal air exposure.
Dark Glass Jars are the best option. They block light while keeping out air and moisture, helping herbs stay fresh for months. Glass is also non-toxic and eco-friendly. It needs a good labelling to know to quickly find the herbs you are looking for.
Transparent Glass Jars are excellent if you like seeing your herbs. I actually prefer this method because I love seeing my herbs when being in the kitchen. However, light clearly degrades them over time, so I must renew my herbs yearly. If you want to store them in transparant glass jars and keep them longer than a year, place the jars in a closed cabinet or pantry to protect them from the light.
Keep Them in Their Original Packaging. Nordiska Örter herbs come in kraft paper bags, they can stay there for a while if stored properly in a drawer or shelf. However, once opened, transferring them to glass jars is a better long-term solution unless you sealed them with a bag clip.
Vacuum-Sealed Glass Jars For Long-Term Storage. For even longer freshness, vacuum-sealing your herbs in glass jars removes oxygen, slowing down the aging process. This is a great option but not as affordable as you need equipement. Also each time you open a jar to take some herbs, you must vaccum-seal them again. It can be great for rare or expensive herbs.
Ceramic Jars with tight-fitting lids also work well, as they protect against light and air.
Final Tips for Maximum Freshness
Labeling your jars with the herb name and the date of storage is essential step to keep track of freshness. If failed sometime doing it but as I know I renew my herbs every summer, I know that my herbs are never a year-old.
Most importantly, avoid using plastic containers, as they can leach chemicals into the herbs, accelerate their degradation, end into your cup of tea and body. Opt for glass, metal, or ceramic instead—these materials are safer, more durable, and better at preserving the quality of your herbs.
As I renew herbs yearly, it is possible that I had not used all. However I never do not waste herbs, I then use the older herbs into food recipes and drinks such as herbal lemonade.