I make my own teas. I tend to buy 3-5 teas whenever I go into a tea shop. And there's now a rule in the house that until they get categorized... no more
I started back when I moved to San Diego. Yes it's true. I do NOT drink coffee.
I do this alot. I don't speak Spanish, Don't like mexican food, and I move to SoCal.
I don't drink coffee and move near Seattle?!?!
So.. I started in San diego by buying a bunch of Celestial Seasonings.
But they inevitably all tasted the same. So I started ripping apart bags and combining them.
Shortly there after is was buying real teas... It's been down/up hill ever since.
Now, I have bout 100 teas.. herbals, and some other powders. I also read books on herbal and magickal treatment. And try to make my teas stand up and bark :)
Why yes I am up
The bigger problem I discovered was that tea can affect other teas.
I had a russian blend which I can only describe as having the intense smell of Mesquite.
I had it in its paper bag in a wooden box with a delicate peach (which was also in its bag.
A few months later and the peach had a very musky mesquite flavour.
In general I recommend keeping your teas in air tight tins. It basically seals the environment.
I'm pretty sure they will lose their oomph over "Long enough" the idea. I don't think tea ages like wine. Not sure.. I'm not that far an expert.. yet