The Art and Science of Picking Tea Leaves

Unveiling the Art of Tea Leaf Harvesting 

Tea has been around for a long time as both a drink and an art form. The first step is to carefully pick and grow tea plants. Picking tea leaves is an art form in and of itself. Each pluck needs skilled hands and just the right amount of time. Help us learn more about the art and science behind this very old job.

How Important Time Is
You need to know when to pick tea leaves. When is the best time to get tea leaves? That depends on the flavor and type of tea being made. The morning is usually the best time to pick tea leaves because it is cooler and the leaves are still wet from the dew.

There are other things besides time of day that change when tea leaves are picked. It's part of the job to know when the leaves should be at the right growth stage. People who like tea love the first bunch of leaves that come up in early spring because they taste so light. Just before they fully open up, the young leaves are picked. This adds more flavor and sweetness to the tea.

Deciding whether to pick by hand or by machine
People who were good at farming and knew how to pick the leaves by hand used to do it. Only the best leaves can be used to make the tea because they are picked by hand. It doesn't hurt the tea plant, and it grows back quickly so it can be picked again.

We are seeing more and more machine collecting right now because it works so well. Many tea leaves can be picked up faster by a machine. This saves time and money and makes more tea. That being said, picking things by hand is more correct and shows more care than using a machine. This might change the taste of the tea so that it's not as good.

How to Pluck
You need to be very careful and know what you're doing when you pick tea leaves. These people, who are sometimes called "tea artisans," pick out the top leaves and buds that haven't opened yet with great care. These are the best parts of the tea plant. They taste great and are soft.

They choose the flowers using the "two leaves and a bud" method. They only pick the last bud, or leaf that hasn't opened yet, at the very top, along with the two smallest leaves below it. There are many flavor chemicals and vital oils in these leaves, which makes them great for making tea.

Different Ways to Pick Tea Leaves
There are different ways to gather tea leaves all over the world, and each one has its own pros:

You pick the bud and the two top leaves by hand with this method, being careful not to hurt the plant. You can make a lot of good teas, like black, green, oolong, and white teas, the old-fashioned way.

"Fine Plucking" or "Fine Pluck Tea" is a different way to pick that goes one step further. People who pick the first leaf and the bud don't touch the second leaf. This way of picking is often used to make white, green, and oolong teas.

3. TCC You can pick tea leaves in two main ways: by hand or with a CTC. This way cuts off both the bud and the top leaves. After that, the leaves are run through a machine that makes small, even tea pieces out of them.

Where in the World to Pick
Every place that grows tea has its own customs and ways of doing things, so there are different ways to pick tea leaves there. These are some of the world's most famous tea shops:

The Indian tea from Darjeeling is known as the "Champagne of Teas" because it tastes and smells so good. The leaves are picked by hand when the tea is in its first and second flush. In this way, light and tasty teas are made.

2. Uji, Japan: People say that the matcha and gyokuro teas made in Uji are the best. Before they are picked, the tea leaves are lined up. They taste sweet and salty and are bright green because of this. To make sure they are the best, people who work in the tea business pick the leaves by hand.

Anxi, China, is where Tie Guan Yin tea was first made. When picking tea leaves by hand, smart people take out the bud and the two leaves on top. The leaves are then carefully rolled up and left to dry. This is what gives the tea its lovely fruity and flowery taste.

Not going bad or going bad in taste
After they are picked, different things are done to keep the tea leaves fresh, make them smell good, and make them taste good. Some of these steps are chilling, burning, hanging, and rolling. The exact steps depend on the type of tea being made.

To lose some water and wilt a bit, the tea leaves are spread out in this step. The oils inside the leaves can escape when you roll them. This process is also known as fermentation. It's an important part of making black and oolong teas. The leaves are left out in the open air so that they can taste what they want. The process ends with drying, which makes the thing less wet. The food will last longer this way.

Tea isn't just art.
It will take a while for the tea leaves to get to your mug. The green fields, the skilled pluckers, and the careful care are all better when it comes to making a great cup of tea.

Think about how hard each leaf was to make the next time you make your best tea. Like the way tea looks and tastes? It will take you to a faraway tea garden where peace rules and time stops.

Find out about the various types of tea, each with its own story. This will teach you about tea.