The tea plant, a shrub native to Asia
The tea plant (Camellia sinensis), or tea tree, can grow to over 10 metres tall in the wild. In tea plantations, they are not allowed to grow that tall; they are pruned to remain around 1 metre high. This makes harvesting the leaves, which is generally done by hand, easier. The tea plant flowers twice a year, and its leaves are dark green and glossy with serrated edges.
Did you know that green tea and black tea come from the same plant? Yes indeed! The only difference is that theine is released throughout the day, whereas caffeine provides an almost instant energy boost. This is why tea is said to be a stimulant and coffee an excitant.
The harvest period
The harvest period is determined by the number of daylight hours to which tea plants are exposed. It runs from November to March in China and Japan. However, tea can also be harvested all year round in certain regions of the world, such as India and Sri Lanka.
What happens to harvested green tea leaves?
Once tea leaves have been harvested, they are not ready to be infused straight away. They must first be “withered”, meaning that they need to lose some of their water. The leaves are dried in the open air or in spaces with blowers. “Rolling” comes next: a machine rolls the leaves to break their cells, which starts the next stage, “oxidation”. Green tea undergoes only a short oxidation period, which gives it very particular nutrients and benefits. The leaves remain for some time in a humid environment at room temperature. They are then dried in the sun for at least 2 days. They need to be turned from time to time: this stage stops their oxidation to prevent them from rotting. It is during this process that green tea gains its antioxidant power!
How many tea leaves are needed for one kilogram of tea?
The leaves of the green tea plant go through many stages before becoming the tea that can be infused. In general, 5 kilograms of harvested tea leaves are needed to obtain, in the end, one kilogram of tea ready to be infused.
Can you grow a tea plant at home?
Now that you know how tea is made, perhaps you would like to try growing it at home? It is not impossible, but as you know, a large quantity of leaves is needed to make tea, so do not expect to become self-sufficient with just one shrub. Nevertheless, the tea plant is a very beautiful ornamental tree, so why not place one in your home? It will bring a touch of exoticism to your interior.
First of all, we recommend buying your plant (a tea plant cutting) from a shop or online. The best option? Nurseries specialising in Camellia sinensis, where you will receive the best advice. Choose hardy varieties.
Then plant the cutting outdoors in your garden or on your balcony. The tea plant needs light to grow, but avoid placing it in direct sunlight as it does not like overexposure. The plant will also thrive indoors, but note that the tea plant needs a temperature above 20°C. As for soil, this shrub loves acidic soils. A mixture of ericaceous compost and garden soil will allow it to flourish fully.
Water it as soon as the soil is dry and check on it regularly; a tea plant needs attention. The soil should always remain loose! In winter, water it as soon as the soil becomes hard on the surface, and make sure the soil remains moist in summer. The tea plant likes water, but be careful with overly hard water.
Is winter approaching? Protect it with bubble wrap or bring it indoors to avoid frost.
How do you make your own green tea?
Even so, remember that the tea plant will only provide you with a few leaves each year. The buds and shoots can be used to make homemade green tea if the plant has been grown organically and sustainably! Watch out for pesticides, which are harmful to health! When harvesting, opt for imperial plucking, selecting only the long buds, which are richer in flavour.
Leave your harvest to dry in a dry, shaded place for 1 to 2 days, spreading the buds and shoots on a mat. Then simply infuse your green tea for 2 minutes in water at 80°C to enjoy it and make the most of its benefits.
In summary, you can certainly grow a tea plant at home and make your own homemade green tea. Growing and processing tea requires a great deal of work and expertise. Discover our range of organic green teas!