Regional Teas - Chapter 01

The use of the names of the tea-growing regions of Sri Lanka is strictly restricted and controlled. Only teas that conform to a registered, legal definition of origin and manufacture can bear the name of a given district. First, the tea must have been grown entirely within a particular ‘agro-climatic region’ (the technical term for ‘district’). This usually implies a particular altitude range as well; for example, tea from Uva district will have been grown at an altitude between 1,000 and 1,600m (3,000-5,000ft.) above sea level, while Nuwara Eliya tea will have been cultivated at a higher altitude range, averaging 2,000m (6,000ft). Secondly, the tea has to have been ‘manufactured’ within the district. Fresh tea-leaf does not travel well it has to be processed within a short period, and every large estate has its own factory dedicated to this operation. While the regional definition permits some latitude regarding the actual processes of manufacture, most Ceylon tea is still made according to traditional methods, which are deemed by experts to produce an end-product of the highest quality. Since 1975, the award and usage of regional ‘appellations’ has been administered by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, the central administrative and regulatory authority for the Ceylon tea industry. The Board sets the standards and regulations with which all tea exported from Sri Lanka must comply. Among these are minimum standards of quality and purity; additionally, to qualify for a district appellation, the tea must conform to the specifications and standards pertaining to that region. The discovery of effect of the diverse climate on tea production has resulted in manufacture of an array of fine teas which are unique to each agro climatic district in Sri Lanka and also are not found anywhere else in the world. Teas produced in these agro climatic regions are known world over as Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula, Uva and Uda Pussallawa in high grown area, Kandy in the mid country, Ruhuna and Sambaragamuwa in the low country area of Sri Lanka.

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KENYAN TEA MANUFACTURING PROCESS

👉Black Tea manufacture: Withering: The objective of withering is to reduce the moisture in the t ealeaf by up to 70% (varies from region to region). 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. At the end of this time the leaf is limp and pliable and so will roll well. Rolling: Tea is placed into a rolling machine, which rotates horizontally on the rolling table. This action creates the twisted wiry looking tealeaves. During the rolling process the leaves are also broken open, which starts the third process - oxidisation. Oxidisation: Once rolling is complete, the tea is either put into troughs or laid out on tables whereby the enzymes inside the tealeaf come in to contact with the air and start to oxidise. This creates the flavour, colour and strength of the tea. It is during this process that the tealeaf changes from green, through light ...

Blooming Tea

Blooming tea is also known as flowering tea. This is a combination of edible flowers and black tea or green tea leaves that is like a bulb. Tea leaves are plucked in early spring in the morning before the buds are opening. Then the leaves are sewn with cotton thread and tied to a flower like Jasmine, lily, lavender or chrysanthemum. Then the leaves are shaped into balls, cones, mushrooms or any other shapes. Then the shaped teas are withered, oxidized and fired. After forming the ball, the flowering tea is sealed to secure the freshness. This product is placed on a boiling water, and you will see that the ball will unfurl gradually and open all the floral petals which look like a blooming flower. Therefore this tea is named as blooming tea. Blooming tea comes in a variety of flavors such as Jasmine, Marigold, chrysanthemum, lily, and lavender. This blooming tea has enormous health benefits to the consumers. Being the fan of the blooming tea, it is important to know what health bene...

Four Seasons Oolong Tea from Taiwan

Four Seasons Oolong Tea from Taiwan 👉🍃🌍❤ This Four Seasons Oolong (Si Ji Chun) is a wonderfully aromatic lightly oxidised oolong grown around Mingjian Township in Nantou County, Taiwan. It is an expressive tea, yet it makes a very refreshing drink. This particular batch is from an autumn crop, plucked in March 2020. Four Seasons Oolong is named after the cultivar that is used to make this aromatic tea, Si Ji Chun , which started appearing in Taiwan in 1980’s. It is said that one farmer near Taipei noticed a tea bush in his garden growing much quicker than others. He planted that particular tea bush more systematically and could harvest leaves from it throughout the year, including during winter time when the bushes are normally dormant. Si Ji Chun has become very popular in Taiwan, as well as other countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam. It favours low altitude conditions but also provides farmers with a consistent crop throughout the whole year. The leaves that ...

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