Drying Tea Leaves

Harvest young leaves in spring and process for different teas.

Black Tea - Taken from new growth in spring.

Bruise leaves by rubbing them between your palms. They should discolor to a reddish brown.

Spread them in a single layer on a tray and let them air dry from two to three days.

Apply heat by placing the partially dried leaves in a 250 Degree F oven for 20 minutes. The best approach for uniform drying is to place them on a cookie sheet in a single layer.

Place dried leaves in a container with a tight fitting lid. Keep away from light and moisture.

Green Tea - Taken from very young leaves and buds.

Steam leaves for 60 seconds. You can use a commercial steamer, or place a colander on a pot of boiling water.

*Apply heat by placing the partially dried leaves in a 250 Degree F oven for 20 minutes. The best approach for uniform drying is to place them on a cookie sheet in a single layer.

Place dried leaves in a container with a tight fitting lid. Keep away from light and moisture.

White Tea - Use buds only.

White tea is taken from unopened buds only. You can use the same procedures for drying as you would for green tea.

For more interesting tea facts, visit my articles:

Growing the Tea Plant

The Health Benefits of White Tea