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Can you help me make my tea beverage shelf stable? #891482

Asked January 10, 2025, 7:59 PM EST

Hey! I’m part of the black Forrest Colorado farmer market which is how I found you. I’m a small business seeking help getting my yerba mate tea beverage shelf stable while keeping a clean ingredient label (no artificial preservatives). I’ve been in business 6 years and started canning 2 years ago. I’m having trouble getting them to stay good without refrigeration and i was wondering if you could help 

Boulder County Colorado

Expert Response

Thanks for the question.
Best practice is that recipes, particularly low acid products (including tea), need to have a validated process for pressure canning to prevent any risk of botulism poisoning. Tea has not been through this validation process. So there is great risk, if botulism is present, it will cause illness or even be fatal.  At home processes are not proven to be safe other then keeping the tea refrigerated. 

Thank you. 

An Ask Extension Expert Replied January 16, 2025, 10:35 AM EST

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