How Tea Is Produced

How Tea Is Produced
Quizzed ESL Activities

Summary

Tea Overview

Tea is the second most consumed beverage globally, after water. The variety of tea is influenced by the extent to which the harvested leaves are allowed to oxidize before they are dried.

Types of Tea

  • Black Tea: Made from leaves that are fully oxidized before they are dried, giving it a rich color and strong flavor.
  • Green Tea: Made from leaves that are quickly dried or steamed to prevent oxidation, preserving the leaves’ natural green color and resulting in a lighter, fresher flavor.
  • Oolong Tea: Partially oxidized, falling somewhere between green and black tea, with a unique flavor that can range from floral and light to more robust and fruity.

Tea Plant and Harvesting

Tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, also known as the tea plant. Workers handpick the “flush,” a group of two young leaves and a bud that grows at the top of the plant, which is prized for its tenderness and flavor.

Oolong Tea Processing

  1. Solar Withering: Leaves are spread out in the sun for 15-20 minutes to initiate oxidation and fermentation.
  2. Indoor Withering: Leaves are spread out on trays for 7 hours, gently stirred every 2 hours, to allow further oxidation.
  3. Rotating Drum: Leaves are placed in a rotating drum to tumble and bruise, breaking down cell structures and speeding up fermentation.
  4. Fixation: Leaves are tumbled in a gas-heated dryer to lock in the desired level of oxidation.
  5. Shaping and Drying: Leaves are shaped into small pellets and dried in an oven to reduce moisture content and enhance fragrance.

Key Vocabulary

Term Definition Example Usage
Black Tea A type of tea made from leaves that are fully oxidized before they are dried, giving it a rich color and strong flavor. “I prefer drinking black tea in the morning for its robust flavor.”
Green Tea A type of tea made from leaves that are quickly dried or steamed to prevent oxidation, preserving the leaves’ natural green color and resulting in a lighter, fresher flavor. “After a meal, I like to drink green tea for its refreshing taste.”
Oolong Tea A type of tea that is partially oxidized, falling somewhere between green and black tea, with a unique flavor that can range from floral and light to more robust and fruity. “Oolong tea is known for its complex flavor profile, making it a favorite among tea enthusiasts.”
Camellia sinensis The plant from which tea leaves are harvested, also known as the tea plant. “The Camellia sinensis plant is cultivated in many parts of the world for its tea leaves.”
Flush A group of two young leaves and a bud that grows at the top of the tea plant, prized for its tenderness and flavor. “Tea workers carefully handpick the flush to ensure the best quality tea leaves.”
Solar Withering A process in oolong tea production where leaves are spread out in the sun to initiate oxidation and fermentation. “Solar withering is the first step in creating oolong tea’s unique flavor.”
Fixation A process in oolong tea production where leaves are tumbled in a gas-heated dryer to lock in the desired level of oxidation. “The fixation process helps to preserve the tea leaves’ flavor and aroma.”
Oxidation A chemical reaction that occurs in tea leaves when they are exposed to oxygen, resulting in a change in flavor and color. “The level of oxidation affects the flavor and color of the tea, with black tea being fully oxidized and green tea being minimally oxidized.”
Fermentation A process in tea production where microorganisms break down the tea leaves’ complex compounds, resulting in a change in flavor and aroma. “Fermentation plays a crucial role in developing the unique flavor profile of oolong tea.”

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How Tea Is Produced

Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘to change, typically in a chemical reaction, as a result of reacting with oxygen’ in the context of tea leaves?

A) Fermentation
B) Oxidation
C) Withering
D) Fixation

2. What is the term for the group of two young leaves and a bud that grows at the top of the tea plant, prized for its tenderness and flavor?

A) Oolong Tea
B) Black Tea
C) Flush
D) Green Tea

3. Which process involves spreading out leaves on trays for 7 hours, gently stirring every 2 hours, to allow further oxidation?

A) Solar Withering
B) Rotating Drum
C) Indoor Withering
D) Shaping and Drying

4. What is the purpose of the ‘Fixation’ step in Oolong Tea processing?

A) To enhance fragrance
B) To reduce moisture content
C) To lock in the desired level of oxidation
D) To tumble and bruise the leaves

5. Which type of tea is made from leaves that are quickly dried or steamed to prevent oxidation, preserving the leaves’ natural green color?

A) Black Tea
B) Oolong Tea
C) Green Tea
D) White Tea

Answer Key:

1. B
2. C
3. C
4. C
5. C

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Passive Voice

The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence receives the action described by the verb. It is often used in formal or technical writing to emphasize the action rather than the doer. For example, in the text, “The variety of tea is influenced by the extent to which the harvested leaves are allowed to oxidize” uses the passive voice to focus on the variety of tea and the process of oxidation. Another example is “Leaves are spread out in the sun” which uses the passive voice to describe the action of solar withering without specifying who performs the action. The passive voice can be formed using the verb “to be” in combination with the past participle of the main verb, such as “are made”, “is prized”, or “are allowed”.

Grammar Quiz:

Choose the correct form of the passive voice for each sentence:

  1. The tea leaves in an oven to reduce moisture content.
  2. The Camellia sinensis plant by workers for its tender leaves.
  3. The unique flavor of oolong tea from floral and light to more robust and fruity.
  4. The “flush” for its tenderness and flavor.
  5. The leaves in a gas-heated dryer to lock in the desired level of oxidation.

Answer Key:

  1. C) are dried
  2. C) is handpicked
  3. A) ranges
  4. B) is prized
  5. C) are tumbled