Storing tea

I'm not sure if this is the right forum.  I have been saving our spent tea for various garden uses.  I let the tea bags dry out then dump the tea on a plate (our favorite brand uses microplastic in the bag, so I don't want the bag).  Once it's dry  I store it.  At first I put it in a ziploc bag on top of the microwave.  I could see condensation in the bag, so no wonder it got moldy.  Then I put the tea in a canning jar in a drawer.  This was working.  Yesterday I was going to add to the jar and there is mold growing in the jar.  I wonder if I should cover the top of the jar with cheese cloth,  or put a cracker in it,  anyone have a good suggestion?  

Assuming you can't just use it instead of storing it, why not just let it dry longer on the plate?  Keep adding to the plate and maybe if you're running the oven, throw it in there to dry out further and then store it however you want. It just sounds like it isn't getting fully dry enough with your current process...

Funny you made this thread because i just did this yesterday. I cut circles out of some stainless mesh screen and use them with mason jar bands. The salt i make is never completely dry so i use these and put them in the cupboard.  Mesh is small enough to keep bugs out. I currently have them on salt,  jerky, dehydrated persimmons, and some cranberry fruit roll ups i made. Stuff that normally might go in a paper bag vs being airtite.....

Even skipping the lid completely and tie a cloth on the jar as a lid should work. Also look into sprouting lids for mason jars. They are basically what i made, but a bigger mesh. I use those as a salt shaker on a mason jar.