How Is Tea Processed?

To completely understand how tea is processed we must first start with harvesting. Once the leaves are harvested by our estate farmer they are as quickly, distributed out onto drying racks called withering troughs, to reduce the moisture content. The leaves are then rolled or desiccated to rupture the leaf cell structure and to release the leaf juices within. The leaf material is then set aside to oxidise (turns the leaves from green to brown – not applicable for green tea that is dried immediately after desiccation), then placed in a drying oven to arrest the oxidation process and ensure the leaf is dry enough to be packed. The dried product is then sorted into various sized grades. If you would like to keep updated about all things tea-related and learn more about Madura, we welcome you to explore our extensive range and discover first hand why we are an award-winning tea estate.