Herbal tea processing focuses on preserving the plant's beneficial compounds and flavors. The process primarily involves drying the herbs under controlled conditions.
Drying: The Key Step
The most crucial step in processing herbal tea is drying.
-
Controlled Environment: Each plant is dried at specific temperature and humidity conditions that will best express its potential. This means different herbs require different drying environments to optimize their flavor and aroma.
-
Gentle Water Removal: The goal is to slowly remove water without losing volatile compounds, which are important for the aromatics of the final product. Rapid drying can degrade these compounds.
Other Potential Steps (Not Mentioned in Reference, But Common)
While the provided reference focuses solely on drying, other steps are typically involved in herbal tea processing. These can include:
-
Harvesting: Herbs are carefully harvested at the optimal time to maximize their flavor and potency.
-
Cleaning and Sorting: The harvested herbs are cleaned to remove any debris and sorted to ensure only the best quality leaves and flowers are used.
-
Cutting and Sifting: Depending on the herb and the desired tea blend, the herbs may be cut or sifted to achieve the desired particle size.
-
Blending (Optional): Different herbs can be blended together to create unique flavor profiles and health benefits.
-
Packaging: The dried herbs are packaged to protect them from light, moisture, and air, which can degrade their quality.
