PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for storing tea leaves each enabling long storage of tea leaves under favorable conditions in a simple device structure through simple operations, and facilitating treatment of the tea leaves.SOLUTION: The method for storing tea leaves comprises the following process: enclosing tea leaves in an air-permeable bag (open sea bladder) 10 housing at least one air-permeable bag(s) 10 in an air-tight container 2 to tightly seal the container feeding a prescribed flow amount of inert gas to the surroundings of the air-permeable bag(s) 10 in the air-tight container 2 and at the same time holding the pressure inside the air-tight container 2 so as to have pressure enough to make the inert gas and the oxygen in the air-permeable bag 10 exchange each other via the air-permeable bag stopping the inflow of the inert gas when the oxygen concentration in the air-permeable bag 10 is reduced under a prescribed concentration and tightly sealing the air-tight container 2 to store the tea leaves.COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT【課題】簡単な装置構成で且つ簡単な作業により茶葉を良好な状態で長期間保管することを可能とし、さらに茶葉の取り扱いが容易である茶葉の保管方法及び装置を提供する。【解決手段】通気性袋(大海袋)10に茶葉を封入し、一又は複数の該通気性袋10を気密性容器2内に収納して密封した後、該気密性容器2内の通気性袋10周囲に所定流量の不活性ガスを流しながら、不活性ガスと通気性袋10内の酸素が該通気性袋を介して置換する圧力となるように気密性容器2内圧力を保持し、通気性袋10内の酸素濃度が所定濃度以下となったら不活性ガスの流入を停止して気密性容器2を密閉して保管する構成とした。【選択図】図1
