How Is Tea Made - All About the Process

The Orthodox Method

The orthodox tea-making method is the most common. In this process, the tea leaves go through four stages: withering, rolling, oxidation and drying.

Withering

When they arrive at the factory, tea leaves are full of moisture. This first stage reduces their water content to about 60%−70%. This is done by laying out the tea leaves in big troughs on a wire mesh. Air is then passed over them, gently drying them out. This takes between 12−17 hours, leaving the leaves bendy and ready to be rolled.

Rolling

In the past, tea leaves were rolled by hand. Today, most factories place them on a rolling machine, which rotates horizontally on a rolling table. This movement twists and turns the leaves until they're thin and wiry looking. It also breaks them up, which starts the next stage: oxidation.