Comments | naturalliving: Chai mix?

electricdruid in naturalliving

Chai mix?

Feb 23, 2011 11:06

I just came across a nearly full carton of chai tea mix (to be mixed with milk) in my mother's fridge. The carton says to enjoy by November 24, 2010. Normally I don't throw out food based on the suggested use-by date, I use it until my nose- or common sense- tells me it's bad. However, I have no experience with this particular product and I don't ( Read more... )

ingredients: food and products, food: safety

Comments 17

fee_parisienne February 23 2011, 18:15:22 UTC

Hmm. I guess I would be inclined to pour it into a glass jar or bottle (if the container it's in isn't see-through) and examine it for any weird scum or sediment that might indicate there are things growing in it.

Beyond that, if it smells okay, it's probably okay to use. Spices, honey, and citric acid are naturally anti-bacterial. If you heat it to boiling before drinking it, that's another factor that will kill any microorganisms.

electricdruid February 23 2011, 19:28:34 UTC

This is probably what I will end up doing, since responses are so mixed. Thanks for the input :)

psychababble February 23 2011, 21:08:30 UTC

From personal experience, so long as it's been kept cold, it's been fine. I poured it into a glass bowl first before I boiled it to make sure there wasn't funk of the ages floating around. If you want it cold, just boil it real good first, then pour it over ice.

simple_summit February 23 2011, 22:22:49 UTC

If your refrigerator is kept relatively cool and it's been standing somewhere in the back it should be fine. I just finished an open carton of EggNogg on sunday that my mum had bought for the holiday season and it was fine.
Your ingredients read very healthy so as long as it still smells and looks normal it should be good to drink :)

rikkilee February 24 2011, 00:32:04 UTC

I have been working in coffee shops for over 4 years.
One coffee shop didn't much structure and we didn't really have a policy as to when to throw out the chai. but we were really busy so it only lasted us a week or so.

the company I am at now, the chai mix only has a 24 hour shelf life. whatever is not used in 24 is thrown out, no questions asked. I think it is a little extreme and I do think that the chai is good for longer than a day, but I don't know about months after it has been opened.

fourgotten February 25 2011, 00:58:16 UTC

if it does not smell, taste, or look bad... then it's good.