Wilting

Wilting is a fundamental and critical process in tea processing that directly affects the aroma, taste, and final quality of the tea. This article will explain the wilting process in detail and explore its application in the production of different types of tea and its impact on their quality. Basic Principles of the Wilting Process Wilting, also known as “water walking,” refers to the process where freshly picked tea leaves are subjected to natural evaporation or assisted methods under specific environmental conditions. This allows the moisture content within the leaves to gradually decrease, making them softer and promoting changes in their internal chemical composition. This process aids in the formation of the tea's aroma and improvement of its flavor. Application of Wilting in Different Types of Tea The wilting process plays a crucial role in the production of various teas, but the specific methods and duration vary depending on the type of tea and the desired quality: Green Tea: The wilting process for green tea is typically shorter, aimed at gently promoting changes in the tea’s internal chemical composition to maintain its green color and fresh aroma. Black Tea: In black tea production, the wilting period is longer, which is…

Basic Introduction to Jietan TeaJietan Tea is produced in Yuanling County, Hunan Province, mainly in the Jietan tea garden, which stands at an elevation of over 100 meters. To its south flows the mighty Yuan River, and to its north rise the Wuling Mountains. It lies within a subtropical monsoon humid climate zone, with abundant rainfall, an annual average temperature of 16.6 degrees Celsius, an annual precipitation of 1,440.9 millimeters, and a frost-free period of 272 days. The area is often shrouded in mist and clouds, with moderate sunlight, creating a unique environment described as "feeling like autumn during the hottest days of summer, with waves of mist all year round." The mild climate, ample light and heat, and high-quality water and soil resources are very suitable for growing tea. The tea produced here has deep roots and lush leaves, many buds, large leaves, and a soft texture, and it was already well-known as far back as the Han Dynasty. Product FeaturesThe quality of premium Jietan Tea is characterized by slender, tightly twisted, rounded, green and lustrous leaves that are evenly bright. Its aroma is fresh and long-lasting. The tea liquor is clear, green, and bright, with a pure, refreshing…

In the previous article (Wilt: The Prelude to Transformation from Fresh Leaves to Tea), Lu Li provided an in-depth introduction to wilting. Next comes kneading, which involves the actions of "kneading" and "twisting" to roll the wilted leaves into a specific shape, reducing their surface area.   Purpose of Kneading in Pu'er Tea Most of the six major types of Chinese tea undergo a kneading process, but the shapes they are formed into vary. Examples include snail-shaped Biluochun, needle-shaped Nanjing Yuhua, flat-shaped West Lake Longjing, curled Anxi Tieguanyin, and pointed Taiping Houkui, among others. Yunnan large-leaf sun-dried green tea (the precursor to Pu'er tea) is categorized as a strip tea, characterized by its pursuit of being "tight, round, and straight," while avoiding being "loose, flat, and broken." When kneading by hand, it's important to maintain consistent movement direction for the leaves to avoid counter-twisting. For many types of tea, the primary purpose of kneading is to shape the leaves, enhancing their economic value. Therefore, the kneading time is short and the pressure light. However, this is not the case with Pu'er tea, because kneading serves another critical function: breaking down leaf cells. During kneading, significant pressure is applied to the…

Recently, affected by a strong cold air front, temperatures in Guangdong have dropped significantly, with some areas experiencing snow, ice, and freezing conditions, especially in the northern tea regions of Renhua, Lechang, and Lianshan, where "icicles" have appeared. To minimize the impact of low temperatures on tea production, reporters from Nongcun Nanfang Daily and the Southern Tea Channel contacted experts from the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences Tea Research Institute, the National Tea Industry Technology System Qingyuan Comprehensive Test Station, and the Guangdong Tea Industry Technology System to provide advice for tea farmers on how to implement effective frost protection measures for their tea plants, thus strengthening prevention and ensuring the safety of tea production. Impact of Frost Damage on Tea Plants After suffering from frost damage, tea plants may exhibit symptoms such as discolored and dried leaves, dead branches, and trunks. This can also delay the sprouting of spring tea, leading to reduced yield and quality, which affects economic benefits. Symptoms of frost damage in tea plants Care for Frost-Damaged Tea Plants 1. Care for Dormant Tea Plants Affected by Frost: For varieties with good cold resistance, timely drainage is needed to prevent repeated freeze-thaw cycles that can damage…

According to forecasts from our city's meteorological station, from 14:00 on July 10 to 08:00 on July 11, the average precipitation in our city was 52.6 millimeters, with a maximum of 179.2 millimeters. Four towns and streets experienced heavy rainstorms (100–250 millimeters), 24 towns and streets experienced storms (50–100 millimeters), and 13 towns and streets experienced heavy rain (25–50 millimeters). Other towns and streets experienced moderate rain (10–25 millimeters). To effectively mitigate the impact of disastrous weather on tea gardens and tea production and stabilize summer and autumn tea production, the following technical guidance is proposed. I. Strengthen Patrols and Preventive Measures in Tea Gardens The flood season has arrived, and strong winds and heavy rains may occur at any time. We should closely monitor weather forecasts. Before heavy rains, strengthen patrols of tea gardens and reinforce greenhouses and other production facilities. Check and dredge drainage ditches in advance; dig drainage trenches where necessary, especially in low-lying or high groundwater areas, where trenches should be at least one meter deep. Move tea, production materials, and equipment from low-lying areas as a precaution against heavy rains. II. Promptly Drain Flooded Tea Gardens After heavy rains, organize labor to drain water from…

Recently, strong convective weather has been frequent in Guangxi, and excessive rainfall can easily cause waterlogging in tea gardens, leading to wet damage to tea plants. Tea plants are crops that prefer moisture but fear flooding. In tea gardens with poor drainage or high groundwater levels, tea plants often grow poorly in large areas and have low yields. After wet damage, even repeated renovation of the tree canopy and increased fertilization levels cannot change the low-yielding appearance of the tea garden, and the plants may even gradually die. 01 Symptoms of Wet Damage The main symptoms of wet damage to tea plants include fewer branches, sparse buds and leaves, slow growth or cessation of growth, grayish-white twigs, yellowing leaves, stunted and diseased trees, gradual death, extremely low tea yield, fewer absorbing roots, limited lateral root extension, shallow root layers, some lateral roots growing horizontally or upward instead of downward. In severe cases, the outer skin of the conducting roots turns black, is less smooth, and develops many small, tumor-like protrusions. When wet damage occurs, the fine roots at greater depths are affected first. Soon after, the shallower fine roots also begin to suffer. The surface of the thick roots appears…

Taishun County is located in the southwestern part of Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province. It has extensive mountainous areas, distinct seasons, and abundant rainfall, providing superior natural resources and a favorable ecological environment that are conducive to tea plant growth. In recent years, Taishun County has attached great importance to the development of the tea industry. Currently, the total area of tea gardens in Taishun County is approximately 6,000 hectares, with the majority (about 60%) concentrated in the five towns of Shiyang, Yayang, Pengxi, Luoyang, and Bai Zhang. Sanbei Fragrant Green Tea is the main product in these towns, characterized by its high fragrance and rich flavor, as well as its lingering aroma after three infusions. It has won nearly one hundred awards, including the China Tea Cup, National Drink Cup, and International Famous Tea Gold Award. "Sanbei Fragrant" is the leading tea brand in Taishun County, with a comprehensive annual output value reaching 1.2 billion RMB. The tea industry has become a pillar industry in local ecological agriculture, and tea income is one of the primary sources of income for local farmers. 01 Current Situation of Sanbei Fragrant Green Tea Processing The "Sanbei Fragrant" tea regional public brand has been…

Tea enthusiasts are certainly familiar with Pu'er tea, but not all may know how to truly appreciate it. Today, let's discuss the seven steps to drinking Pu'er tea. Step 1: Observe the Tea Mature production techniques result in cakes that are evenly shaped, compact, and uniform in thickness. With the advent of electrostatic dust removal machines, modern Pu'er teas from reputable manufacturers are free of foreign objects. Prior to 2004, when such machines were not widely used, older teas might have some impurities due to manual sorting. The color distinguishes raw from ripe teas: ripe teas are dark brown, while raw teas range from dark green (young) to brownish-red (aged), transitioning from loose to compact, thin to robust, dry to lustrous. Step 2: Touch the Tea The compactness of the tea indicates its aging potential; loosely packed leaves age faster under equal storage conditions, while tightly packed leaves age more slowly. Surface blending involves sprinkling higher-grade leaves on the surface for a better appearance, while a single-grade cake consists of uniformly graded leaves throughout, without any external embellishment. Step 3: Smell the Dry Tea As the name suggests, use your nose to carefully smell the tea. Pu'er tea improves with…

"Spring wind greens the south again, Biluochun is beautifully winding," it's the time of year when everyone talks about Biluochun. We talk about the fragrant tea that permeates the city, and we also talk about its staggering price. Why is Dongting Biluochun so expensive? What's the reason for its high cost? It's expensive due to its rarity, and also because of the hands involved. Dongting Biluochun, from picking to stir-frying, is done entirely by hand, taking time, effort, and care, inevitably making it costly. The first step to a cup of Jiangnan flavor is picking. How do the tea farmers on Dongting East and West Hills pick tea? When 5% of the tea shoots in the tea garden reach the initial stage of one bud and one leaf, they can be picked according to standards. First Picking The first batch of picking requires thoroughness; only when the first batch is thoroughly picked will the subsequent growth of new tea shoots be uniform in length. Otherwise, the newly sprouted shoots vary in size and length, which the farmers call "chaos." "Chaos on the tree makes it hard to pick, and chaos after picking makes it hard to sort," affecting quality. Leaving…

"White Peony tea," a precious variety, is produced in Zhenghe, known as the "Hometown of Chinese White Tea." White Peony tea is picked at the stage of one bud and two leaves, requiring that the buds and leaves are covered with white down, referred to as "three whites." The shape of the tea is two leaves embracing a bud, with a natural leaf posture and white down covering the back of the leaves. After brewing, the liquor turns apricot yellow or orange-yellow, clear and bright, with a fresh and lasting downy fragrance. The veins are slightly red, scattered among the green leaves, earning it the praise of "red dress on a white body." The preparation method for drinking White Peony tea is similar to that of green tea but, due to the lack of kneading, the tea juice does not easily seep out, so the brewing time is slightly longer than for green tea. "White like clouds, green like dreams, clean like snow, fragrant like orchids," this tea, which is cold and cool in nature, has the effects of heat-clearing and summer-heat dispelling, making it an excellent drink for refreshing the heart and purifying the spirit in summer. It is…

The diverse and ever-changing scents of tea are one of the main motivators for many new tea enthusiasts to get started, and a source of enjoyment for seasoned tea connoisseurs. For example, green teas have a "roasted chestnut" or "fried bean" aroma, while black teas tend towards a "sweet fruit" or "flower honey" scent. The variety of aromas in Pu'er tea is even richer, with raw Pu'er offering lotus, orchid, and fruity scents, as well as apricot aroma, while ripe Pu'er has glutinous rice, jujube, woody notes, and more. Many of these aromas can overlap. Where do all these aromas come from? Why do so many of them only approximate rather than perfectly match the descriptions they're given? In this article, Lu Li will guide tea enthusiasts through the different layers of tea aromas and where the various types of Pu'er tea aromas originate. Sources of Pu'er Tea Aromas In earlier times, Taiwanese tea expert Deng Shihai summarized four types of Pu'er tea aromas: camphor, lotus, orchid, and green (fresh) aromas. Later, the industry continued to summarize the rules of changes in Pu'er tea aromas, adding more descriptive terms that contributed to the development of the Pu'er tea aroma system.…