Tea Estate Stay in India: What to Expect, Where to Go and How to Plan

(iii) Temperature
Changes in temperature can affect the growth of the tea bushes.

(iv) New leaf growth
Fresh shoots need to reach the right stage before plucking.

(v) Season
Different seasons produce different types and qualities of tea.

(vi) Estate production schedule
Each estate follows its own daily and seasonal production plan.

3. Visit a Tea Factory

A visit to a tea factory helps you understand what happens after the leaves are collected. Black tea production commonly includes these stages:

1. Withering
2. Rolling or maceration
3. Oxidation
4. Drying
5. Sorting
6. Grading
7. Packing

Different estates can produce different styles of tea, including:

(i) CTC tea
A strong tea commonly used for milk tea and masala chai.

(ii) Orthodox black tea
Tea made through a more traditional rolling and processing method.

(iii) Green tea
Tea processed with limited oxidation.

(iv) White tea
A lighter tea generally made using younger buds and leaves.