2. AN OVERVIEW:
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India is the second largest producer of tea
(camelia sinensis), the largest consumer and
the fourth largest exporter (after Sri Lanka,
Kenya and China) in the world production .
Indian tea exports hit a new bottom in 2007
with only 155.6 m kgs of tea shipped overseas
and total earnings of Rs 15 billion.
The major tea growing areas of India are:
North Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
3. HISTORY OF TEA
The
second emperor of China, Shen Nung,
discovers tea when tea leaves blow into his cup
of hot water .
In 1824 the first tea plant was brought to Ceylon
& planted in the Royal Botanical Gardens,
Peradeniya.
The pioneer of Ceylon Tea industry James
Taylor planted the first 19 acres of tea in
“Loolecondra” Estate near to the Kandy.
Tea Sector plays most vital role in Indian
economy.
“ Camellia Sinensis”
5. GROWING CONDITIONS
A hot,
moist Climate
Temperature ranging from 10 – 30 degrees
centigrade
Average yearly rain fall, around 200mm
Ground level of between 600 – 200m above sea
level
6.
7. PLUCKING:
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Plucking rounds depend on climate; new
growth can be plucked at 7 - 12 day intervals
during the growing season. Tea harvesting is
exhaustive and labour intensive.
8. WITHERING:
The objective of withering is to reduce the moisture in
the tea leaves by up to 70%. The leaves are thinly
spread to wither either naturally or Tea is laid out on
a wire mesh in troughs. Air is then passed through the
tea removing the moisture in a uniform way. This
process takes around 12 to 17 hours.
9. ROLLING:
Then the green leaf passes to the rolling machinery where
it is twisted and rolled to break up the leaf cells and
release the juices which give the tea its flavor. The first
important chemical change starts here when the juices
which remain on the leaf are exposed to the air and
development of the essential oil begins.
10. FERMENTATION:
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Rolled leaf is put on fermentation racks specially made
of tiles, cement or aluminium.
Fermentation rooms are kept clean and cold .
Fermentation period varies from 2 to 3 hrs depending
on the type of leaf, degree of wither, temperature,
availability of oxygen and fermenting ability of the tea
flush.
Fermentation is a very sensitive process. Even 5 minutes
time delay in adjusting the correct fermentation period
is likely to deteriorate flavour appreciably. During
fermentation the leaf changes colour.
11. SORTING & GRADING:
The bulk tea is sorted on mechanically oscillated
sieves. The sieve size decreases gradually from top to
bottom. Thus the bigger size teas are retained on the
top while the broken leaves fall towards the floor.
13. TYPES:
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White tea: Unwilted and unoxidized
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Yellow tea: Unwilted and unoxidized but allowed to
yellow
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Green tea: Wilted and unoxidized
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Oolong tea: Wilted, crushed, and partially oxidized
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Black tea: Wilted, crushed, and fully oxidized
14. HEALTH & BENEFITS OF TEA
Higher
antioxidant capacity than fruits &
vegetables.
Help to relax on human
Assist in natural immune
Response to infection
Reduce risk of heart diseases, cancers,
cholesterol level, higher blood pressure.
Reduce eye fatigue.