The tea plant, a shrub native to Asia
The tea plant (camellia sinensis), the tea tree, can in nature reach more than 10 meters in height. In tea plantations, they are not allowed to grow that high, they are pruned to stay about 1 meter high. This simplifies the harvesting of leaves, which is generally done by hand. The tea plant flowers twice a year, its leaves are dark green and shiny with jagged edges.
Did you know that green tea and black tea come from the same plant? And yes! The only difference is that theine diffuses throughout the day, while caffeine provides an almost instant energy boost. This is why we say that tea is a stimulant and coffee is a stimulant.
Harvest time
The time of harvest is determined based on the hours the tea plants are exposed to daylight. This lasts from November to March in China or Japan. But tea can also be harvested all year round in certain regions of the world such as India or Sri Lanka.
What do we do with harvested green tea leaves?
Once the tea leaves have been harvested, they are not ready to brew immediately. You must first make them “wilt”, that is, make them lose part of their water. The leaves are dried outdoors or in spaces with a blower. “Rolling” then occurs: a machine rolls the leaves to break the cells, which will allow the next stage, “oxidation”, to begin. Green tea only undergoes a short oxidation time, which gives it very specific nutrients and benefits. The leaves remain for some time in a humid environment and at room temperature. They are then dried for at least 2 days in the sun. You need to stir them from time to time: this step stops their oxidation to prevent them from rotting. It is during this process that green tea obtains its antioxidant power!
How many tea leaves per kilogram of tea?
The leaves of the green tea plant undergo many stages before becoming the tea that can be brewed. In general, it takes 5 kilograms of tea leaves harvested to ultimately obtain one kilogram of tea ready to be brewed.
Can you grow a tea plant at home?
Now that you know how is tea made, you perhaps want to start this culture at home? It's not impossible, but as you know, it takes a large amount of leaves to make tea, so don't expect to become self-sufficient with just one shrub. However, the tea tree is a very beautiful ornamental tree, so why not put one in your home? It will bring a touch of exoticism to your interior.
First of all, we recommend that you buy your plant (tea plant cutting) in a store or on the internet. The must? Nurseries specializing in Camellia Sinensis where you will receive the best advice. Favor robust species.
Then plant the cutting in the open air in your garden or on your balcony. The tea plant needs light to grow, however avoid placing it in a place where it will be in full sun as it does not like overexposure. The plant will also do well indoors, but be careful, the tea plant needs a temperature above 20°C. Soil wise, this shrub loves acidic soils. A mixture of heather soil and garden soil will allow it to flourish fully.
Water it as soon as the soil is dry and visit it regularly, a tea plant needs attention. The earth must always be soft! Water it in winter as soon as the soil becomes hard on the surface and make sure to keep the soil always moist in summer. The tea plant likes water but be careful with water that is too hard.
Is winter approaching? Protect it with bubble wrap or bring it inside to avoid freezing.
How to make your own green tea?
Even if, remember, the tea plant will only provide you with a few leaves per year. The buds and shoots can be used to make homemade green tea if the plant has been grown in an ecological and organic way! Beware of pesticides, which are harmful to your health! When harvesting, opt for imperial picking, choosing only the long buds, richer in taste.
Let your harvest dry in a dry, shaded place for 1 to 2 days by spreading the buds and shoots on a mat. You will then just have to infuse your green tea for 2 minutes in water at 80°C to taste it and make the most of its benefits.
In summary, you can grow a tea plant at home and make your own green tea. Growing tea and processing it requires a lot of work and know-how. Discover our range of organic green teas !