Drying tea leaves is a crucial step in tea production, and it primarily involves two common methods: oven drying and sun drying.
Most Common Drying Methods
Here’s a breakdown of the two most common drying methods:
Oven Drying
- Process: Tea leaves are placed on perforated trays within an oven.
- Air Circulation: Hot air is circulated throughout the tea leaves via convection.
- Mechanism: This method ensures even drying through controlled heat and airflow.
- Benefits: Offers consistency and speed, ideal for large-scale production.
Sun Drying
- Process: Tea leaves are spread out in a single layer outdoors, typically on shallow bamboo baskets.
- Drying Source: Leaves are left to dry under the natural heat of the sun.
- Environmental Considerations: This method relies on weather conditions, making it best suited for sunny climates.
- Benefits: Natural process with minimal energy consumption and is often associated with traditional tea production.
| Method | Process | Benefits | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oven Drying | Leaves on trays, hot air circulation via convection | Controlled drying, even results, good for large-scale production, faster. | Requires specific equipment. |
| Sun Drying | Leaves spread outdoors on shallow baskets | Natural process, minimal energy use, traditional, suited for certain tea types | Dependent on weather, can be slower, less consistent. |
Summary
Both oven and sun drying are effective methods for removing moisture from tea leaves. Oven drying is a modern technique that provides consistent and faster results. Sun drying, a more traditional approach, uses the sun's natural heat.
