The Tea picking technique directly affects the yield and quality of tea. A scientifically sound picking technique should accurately control the picking standards, methods, cycles, and storage of fresh leaves while balancing the relationship between picking and nurturing. Below is an introduction to the manual picking technique for high-quality green tea fresh leaves.
Tea Picking Standards
The picking standards are determined based on factors such as the tea plant variety, growth status, new shoot development, and the type of processed tea product. Generally, high-quality green tea is picked at a tender stage, starting with single buds, followed by one Bud and one initial leaf, one bud and one full leaf, and one bud and two initial leaves. For needle-shaped teas, picking ranges from one bud and one initial leaf to one bud and two initial leaves, while flat bud-shaped teas are picked from single buds to one bud and one initial leaf.
Tea Picking Period
In spring, when picking fresh leaves for high-quality green tea, harvesting should commence when 5% to 10% of the buds and leaves on the tea plant canopy reach the picking standard. Based on the sprouting of buds and leaves, picking should be organized every 1 to 3 days to ensure that all suitable buds and leaves meeting the standard are harvested, thus avoiding any impact on the quality and yield of the tea.
Tea Picking Method and Requirements
Use hand-picking (without plucking or stripping). The requirement is for the picked buds and leaves to be complete, fresh, and uniform. Avoid picking rain-soaked leaves, purple buds, and diseased or Insect-infested buds. Ensure no scales, fish leaves, stems, tea fruits, or old branches and leaves are included in the Harvest. For young tea plants, adopt the method of “topping and leaving leaves, picking the top and leaving the sides.” For mature tea plants, follow the principle of “primarily picking, combining picking and leaving, and timely picking.”
Storage Precautions for Fresh Leaves
The containers used for storing fresh leaves should be clean, hygienic, and well-ventilated, such as hard, specialized mesh bamboo baskets or bamboo crates, with a fill level not exceeding 75%. Do not use soft packaging materials like plastic bags, nylon bags, Fertilizer bags, or feed bags. Fresh leaves should be gently placed and turned, avoiding pressure to minimize mechanical damage.