reprocessed tea

The history of reprocessed tea can be traced back to ancient times. Initially, in order to better preserve tea leaves or enhance their flavor, people began to experiment with adding other substances to tea. For example, during the Tang Dynasty, there were records of adding spices and medicinal herbs to tea. As time went by, this processing method continued to evolve and gradually formed various types of reprocessed tea. In the Song Dynasty, the production of scented tea was already quite common. People would scent tea leaves with fresh flowers, allowing the tea to absorb the floral fragrance and creating the unique scented tea category. The emergence of reprocessed tea not only enriched the types of tea but also met the increasingly diverse taste demands of people.

1. The Production Process

Scenting: This is the key process in making scented tea. Take jasmine tea as an example. Layer the tea leaves with jasmine flowers, allowing the tea leaves to fully absorb the fragrance of the jasmine. During the scenting process, the control of temperature, humidity, and time is crucial. Generally, it needs to go through multiple scenting processes, and after each scenting, it is necessary to carry out drying treatment to remove excess moisture, ultimately enabling the tea leaves to achieve the ideal aroma and taste.

Pressing: It is used for making compressed tea, such as Pu-erh tea cakes and brick tea. First, steam the tea leaves to make them soft, and then put them into a specific mold and apply a certain pressure to make them take shape. The pressure and time of pressing determine the density and shape of the compressed tea, and the subsequent aging process further enhances the quality and flavor of the tea.

Extraction: It is commonly used in the production of tea bags or instant tea. The tea leaves are extracted with hot water or other solvents to extract the effective components in the tea leaves, and then through steps such as concentration and drying, convenient – to – carry and brew tea bags or instant tea products are made.

2.Categories of Reprocessed Tea

Scented Tea: It is made by using green tea, black tea, or oolong tea as the tea base and scenting them with fragrant fresh flowers. Common ones include jasmine tea, rose tea, osmanthus tea, etc. Each scented tea combines the mellow taste of tea leaves with the fragrance of fresh flowers, having a unique aroma and taste.

Compressed Tea: Compress the tea leaves into various shapes, such as cakes, bricks, and tuo – shaped. Besides the previously mentioned Pu – erh tea cakes, there are also Liubao tea bricks, Fu brick tea, etc. Compressed tea is convenient for storage and transportation, and unique flavor changes will occur during the aging process.

Tea Bags: The tea leaves or tea powder are packed into filter paper bags for convenient brewing. The raw materials of tea bags can be various types of tea, or flavored teas mixed with flowers, herbs, fruits, etc. It is loved by people in modern fast – paced lives for its convenience.

Instant Tea: It is a tea product that can quickly dissolve in water. Through advanced processing techniques, the effective components in the tea leaves are extracted and made into powder or granular form. When drinking, just add hot water. Instant tea retains the main flavor and nutrients of tea leaves and also meets people’s demand for convenient beverages.

3.Quality Characteristics

Aroma: The aroma of reprocessed tea is rich and diverse. Scented tea is characterized by its strong floral fragrance. Different flower species endow scented tea with unique aromas, such as the delicate jasmine fragrance of jasmine tea and the sweet rose fragrance of rose tea. Compressed tea develops an aged aroma during the aging process, and this aroma becomes more mellow over time. Tea bags and instant tea, through careful blending, retain or enhance the original aroma of the tea leaves.

Taste: The taste is mellow and full-bodied. When tasting scented tea, one can feel the harmonious blend of the mellow taste of tea leaves and the freshness of floral fragrance. Compressed tea, due to being pressed and aged, has a more mellow and smooth taste, and some also have a unique aged flavor. Although tea bags and instant tea are convenient for brewing, they also try to restore the original flavor of the tea leaves as much as possible. Some flavored tea bags also add rich layers of taste.

Appearance: The appearance is unique. In scented tea, the tea strips and flower petals set off each other, with a natural color. Compressed tea has a regular shape, a smooth surface, and clear textures. Tea bags have a unified appearance, which is convenient for packaging and carrying. Instant tea presents as fine powder or uniform granules.

4.Methods

Scented Tea: Choose a transparent glass covered bowl or teapot to facilitate observing the tea leaves and appreciating the tea soup. Take 3-5 grams of scented tea and brew it with hot water at 80 – 90°C. Cover the lid and let it steep for 3 – 5 minutes. When the tea soup shows a bright color and a rich aroma, uncover the lid and slowly sip and enjoy.

Compressed Tea: First, pry off an appropriate amount of compressed tea, generally 8-10 grams. You can use a special tea needle or tea knife. Put the pried – off tea leaves into a purple clay teapot or a covered bowl, and rinse them once with boiling water, which is the warm-up infusion, aiming to wake up the tea leaves. Then pour in boiling water again and let it steep for 1-2 minutes before pouring out the soup. Compressed tea is highly resistant to multiple infusions and can be brewed many times.

Tea Bags: Put the tea bag into a cup and directly brew it with hot water at about 90°C. Let it steep for 2-3 minutes and gently squeeze the tea bag to fully release the tea soup. You can decide whether to add seasonings such as honey and lemon according to personal taste.

Instant Tea: Take an appropriate amount of instant tea powder or granules and put them into a cup. Add 150-200 milliliters of hot water and stir well to drink. You can also add milk, fruit juice, etc. according to personal preferences to make beverages with different flavors.

Reprocessed tea, with its rich variety, unique production techniques, and charming flavors, brings us a different tea – drinking experience. Whether in a busy morning or a leisurely afternoon, making a cup of reprocessed tea, feeling the dance of the tea fragrance on the tip of the tongue, and savoring the charm of the integration of tradition and innovation. I hope that through today’s popular science, everyone can have a deeper understanding of reprocessed tea. Also, welcome everyone to share your tea – drinking experiences in the comment section.