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Manufacturing Process of Kangra Tea After
tea is plucked from the gardens it undergoes a five step manufacturing
process before it is ready to be brewed. WITHERING:
The green leaf is spread on withering troughs loosely, to a depth
of 4 inches. Fans are installed to pass air over the green leaf while it
withers. The object of the withering process is to get rid of
the moisture content in the green leaf and prepare the leaf to
withstand the strain of rolling without breaking up. Period of withering
can vary from 18 to 24 hours depending on the moisture content. The leaf
when properly withered gives off a fragrant odour. ROLLING:
the object of rolling is to bruise the cells of the leaves so that their
sap (juices) is exposed to
the action of oxygen in the air. Rolling also gives a twist to
the leaves. The cell sap contains Tannins, caffeine, proteins and other
chemical substance, which ultimately give colour to the liquor infusion. FERMENTATION:
the rolled leaves are then spread on fermenting beds and left to ferment
for a period of 1 – 2 hours. The leaves are loosely spread to a
thickness of 1 – 1.5 inches. Good fermentation results in the colour
of the leaf to change to reddish
brown giving off the characteristic aroma after the juices in the rolled
leaves react with each other and the air. FIRING:
The fermented leaves are then fired (i.e. heated) in a drier machine.
The object of this process is to arrest fermentation and slowly
desiccate the leaf in such a way so as to extract the whole moisture
without scorching the tea and at the same time preserving
its qualities to the optimum level. The leaves are passed through
the drier and remain within the drier for a period of approx. 20 minutes
at a temperature of around 230 – 245 degree Fahrenheit. SORTING:
The made tea is then sorted in various grades. Sorting of different
grades is done by sorting machines which are fitted
with wire mesh of different sizes so that the whole leaf;
broken;fanning and dust grades fall in different places. And
finally the different grades of tea are packed and are ready to be
consumed.
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