TEA - Camellia sinensis Family - Theaceae Genus - Camellia Species - sinensis

TEA - Camellia sinensisTEA - Camellia sinensis

Family - Theaceae

Genus - Camellia

Species - sinensis

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Related PlantsRelated Plants

• Ornamental Camellias

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Groups of TeaGroups of Tea

• China type - C. sinensis var. sinensis– Northern slope of the Himalayan Mts– Elevated altitudes, semi-humid forest– Bush with small erect leaves with many

serrations– Flowers are borne singly– Greater tolerance to drought and low temp.– Main tea produced in China and Japan

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Groups of TeaGroups of Tea

• Assam type - C. sinensis var. assamica– Southern slopes of the Himalayan Mts– Found in humid dense forest– Tree– Leaves are larger with less serrations, less

erect, and tend to droop at tips– Leaves lighter green color– Flower in clusters of 2-4

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Origin and Domestication of TeaOrigin and Domestication of Tea

ChinaAssam

18331930s

Trade with Europe

1600s

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Tea DomesticationTea Domestication

• China type domesticated in south China– 4000 years ago?– Spread throughout China and Japan

• Trading with Europe beginning in early 1600s– Earliest maritime explorations by the Portuguese and

Dutch– England enters trade with East India Co in mid to late

1600s

• East India Trade Co monopoly on tea trade ends in 1833

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Tea DomesticationTea Domestication

• Tea growing in India investigated– Seed of China type were planted various locations– Grew best in Assam, NE India - so developed

plantations– Tea-like plants grew wild throughout forest in this area

- these were the Assam type tea– Initial plantings were mixtures of China and Assam tea

plants• Outcrossing plants• Seed propagation• Hybrid tea populations were developed

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Tea DomesticationTea Domestication

• Assam region initial area of domestication of Assam tea– Late 1800s

• South India

• Sri Lanka (esp. after rust destroyed the coffee industry)

• Java and Indonesia

– 1930s• Equatorial highlands of Central and East Africa

• Current Assam tea is a hybrid type derived from the initial mixed plantings in NE India

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Origin and Domestication of TeaOrigin and Domestication of Tea

ChinaAssam

18331930s

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Tea ProductionTea Production

27

21

9

15

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Percent of total

production

India China Sri Lanka Africa

Major Producing Regions

By weight 50% total production of coffee

Increasing

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Tea ProductionTea Production

2168

1

395

0 570

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Pro

duct

ion

(100

0 t)

Asia Europe Africa NorthAmerica

SouthAmerica

Major Producing Regions

Much of production consumed locally

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Tea ImportationsTea Importations

311

227187

104

160

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Impo

rtat

ions

(10

00 t

)

Asia Europe Africa NorthAmerica

SouthAmerica

Major Importers

Much of production consumed locally

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The Tea PlantThe Tea Plant

Perennial evergreen bush/tree

Harvest young leaves

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The Tea PlantThe Tea Plant• Understorey trees• Adaptation

– Temperature• 18-30°C• Leaf growth stops

– Below 13°C

– Above 35°C

– Shoot replacement cycle related to temp.

• Equatorial region– Grown in highlands (1000-3000 m)

– At low latitude/altitude need shade for best growth (Assam type)

– Rainfall

– Soil type

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The Tea PlantThe Tea Plant

• Understorey trees• Adaptation

– Rainfall• 1150 mm if evenly distributed

– Soil type• Acid soils (pH 4.0 to 5.6)

• Good drainage

• Good water holding capacity

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Tea Plant PropagationTea Plant Propagation

• Seed– Short period of viability

– Germinate in sun and plant into pots once begin to emerge

– 2-3 years before field planting size

– Traditional approach to propagation

– Seedlings are not uniform

• Clonally– Single node cuttings

– Ready for field in 1 year

– Rooted cuttings are uniform

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Tea PlantingTea Planting• Density of planting

– 10,000 to 15,000/ha

• Use of shade– Initially all tea in Assam with shade– Now many areas without shade

• Higher yields without shade

• Greater response to fertilizer without shade

– Some exceptions• High heat areas (lowlands of north India/Bangladesh)

• Low input system, in highlands of Kenya, shaded system is equal or better than unshaded

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Tea Training and PruningTea Training and Pruning• Training

– Head back to 20 cm at planting

– Next year to 40 cm

– Final year at 60 cm to form a level “plucking table”

• Pruning– Need to cut back periodically

– Plucking table will slowly rise

– Periodically need to rejuvenate• Prune below branches

• Bring to bear again

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Tea HarvestingTea Harvesting• Harvest - Most done by hand

– Tips• Bud only gives best product

– Fine plucking - most common• Bud plus 2 leaves

– Coarse plucking• Bud plus 3 leaves

• Important to begin processing quickly

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Tea HarvestingTea Harvesting

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Types of TeaTypes of Tea

• Green Tea– Not “fermented”

– Only China type tea

– Mainly China and Japan

• Oolong Tea– Semi “fermented”

– Produced in Taiwan

• Black Tea (highest production)

– “Fermented”

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Tea ProcessingTea Processing

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Black Tea ProcessingBlack Tea Processing

• WitheringWithering– Thin layers of leaves in traysThin layers of leaves in trays

– Leaves allowed to dry to lose turgidityLeaves allowed to dry to lose turgidity

– 18-24 hours18-24 hours

– 50% weight loss50% weight loss

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• RollingRolling– Twists and breaks up leafTwists and breaks up leaf– Expresses leaf sapExpresses leaf sap

• Good contact with flavanols and polyphenol oxidaseGood contact with flavanols and polyphenol oxidase

– Done 3-5 timesDone 3-5 times• 1st roll = dhools, most tender parts of the leaves1st roll = dhools, most tender parts of the leaves• 2nd and 3rd rolls = mahls and fines2nd and 3rd rolls = mahls and fines• Sticks left over = big bulkSticks left over = big bulk

– Need to keep temp between 27 - 32 CNeed to keep temp between 27 - 32 C• Mechanical heatMechanical heat• Heat generated by oxidationHeat generated by oxidation

Black Tea ProcessingBlack Tea Processing

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Black Tea ProcessingBlack Tea Processing• Fermentation = oxidationFermentation = oxidation

– Begins with rollers, dhool stagesBegins with rollers, dhool stages– Flavor and aroma developsFlavor and aroma develops– Leaves turn darkLeaves turn dark

• Flavanols >> colored theaflavins, thearubiginsFlavanols >> colored theaflavins, thearubigins

– Limit of 4-5 hoursLimit of 4-5 hours

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Black Tea ProcessingBlack Tea Processing• Drying = stops oxidationDrying = stops oxidation

– Time of fermentation Time of fermentation • SubjectiveSubjective• Important in qualityImportant in quality

– In at 82 - 94 C and finish at 53 CIn at 82 - 94 C and finish at 53 C

– Moisture levelMoisture level• 54% to 3% moisture54% to 3% moisture

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Black Tea ProcessingBlack Tea Processing• Grading and SortingGrading and Sorting

– Broken Orange Pekoe (high % buds)Broken Orange Pekoe (high % buds)– Broken PekoeBroken Pekoe– Orange Pekoe (twisted tender stalk)Orange Pekoe (twisted tender stalk)– Pekoe - compact and densePekoe - compact and dense– Souchong - compact and denseSouchong - compact and dense– Broken Orange Pekoe FanningBroken Orange Pekoe Fanning

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Green Tea ProcessingGreen Tea Processing

• Prevent “fermentation”Prevent “fermentation”– Initial heating to destroy polyphenol oxidaseInitial heating to destroy polyphenol oxidase

– Rolled at 90-100 C for 45-50 min - 50% moistureRolled at 90-100 C for 45-50 min - 50% moisture

– Rolled without heat for 15 minRolled without heat for 15 min

– Dried at 50-60 C (30-40 min) - 30% moistureDried at 50-60 C (30-40 min) - 30% moisture

– Rolled on heated pan (80-90 C), 40 min.Rolled on heated pan (80-90 C), 40 min.

– Dried at 80 C - <6% moistureDried at 80 C - <6% moisture

– Sieve to remove stems and debrisSieve to remove stems and debris

– Final dryingFinal drying

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Quality ControlQuality ControlUse same weight of tea per cup

Allowed to steep in hot water same time

Grade indicated by cup placement

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Quality ControlQuality ControlJudge quality of tea samples

Ensure consistent flavor of blends

Tea judged better gets higher price

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Top Tea VarietalsTop Tea Varietals

• Darjeeling– First flush, light almondy, flowery scent, puckery mouthfeel

– Second flush, darker, more body, hints of muscat

• Formosa Oolong– Champagne of teas, grown at lower altitudes

– Aroma of peach blossoms, wisp of smokiness, almost no mouth pucker (astringency)

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Top Tea VarietalsTop Tea Varietals

• Yunnan– Full body, rich, wispy smokiness, hint of pepperiness

• Earl Grey– Flavored tea

– Black tea with bergamot (citrus of Sicilian origin)

• Ceylon– Clean, bright flavor

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Health Benefits of Tea

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Health Benefits of TeaHealth Benefits of Tea

• Reduce risk of Coronary Heart Disease– Epidemiological studies

– Lowers blood levels of LDL cholesterol

• Flavonoids are antioxidants– 95% polyphenols in tea are flavanoids

– Higher anti oxidant activity than Vitamin A, C or E - but with less bioavailability

– Combat free radicals >> reduce risk of cancer

• Much of benefits not experimentally confirmed

Any questions on tea?Any questions on tea?