Plucking is the first step in the manufacturing process of tea and refers to the harvesting by hand of the tea plant. The plucking process occurs when the tea bush “flushes” or pushes out new leaf shoots. For a fine black or green tea, the pluckers will take the first two leaves and one new bud.
Withering is important because it reduces moisture content and makes the leaves flaccid. These two attributes assist in the rolling and drying process. They make the leaves easier to deal with. This then allows more consistent processing, and generally keeps the leaves from gunking up the machinery.
The withered green leaves are rolled in large rolling machines. These generally consist of two large, heavy metal plates, which are rotating against each other and are hereby breaking open the cells, bringing the cell fluid into contact with the oxygen in the air. This introduces the fermentation as well as the development of the essential oils, which then determine the scent and the flvour of the teas.
The fermentation is an oxidation and tanning process of the cell fluids, which have been released during the rolling.At Udayakanda tea factory automatic humidifiers are installed which humidifies the room in which the fermentation takes place. During the fermentation - which takes 2 - 3 hours - the leaves change their colour, which gradually becomes a copper-red.
A Boiler is used to aid with the steam produced to the drying process. The tea is moved through the dryer on a conveyor belt. The starting temperature amounts to 90°C and binds the cell fluid firmly to the leaves. Towards the end of the 20-minute long drying process, the temperature decreases to 40°C and the humidity content to approximately 6%. Later, when the tea is infused, the cell fluid, which stuck to the dried leaves, is solved in the hot water and produces the aromatic and invigorating drink.
At the last process of making black tea, leaves are separated according to the particle size using sieves, and then tea is cleaned by removing the dust. This process is called grading.
Tea color sorter is a technical machine helps to identify the defects of tea leaves according to size, shape, and color. It helps to diagnose all defects from the tea flakes with high-resolution CCD cameras.
The sorted teas are hygienically packed in 5 Ply Lined Corrugated Cartons and Large Multi-Walled Paper Sacks according to different tea grades
The packed tea will be delivered to tea auctions in colombo or shipped Worldwide.
