From leaf to tea: processing compared

Key stages of the six tea categories in simplified form. These are documented patterns, not recipes for every tea in a category. Picking precedes each route; sorting and finishing may add further stages.

Key stages · simplified overview

Green tea

1. Heat fixation
2. Shaping
3. Drying

White tea

1. Withering
2. Drying

Yellow tea

1. Heat fixation
2. Yellowing under moist heat
3. Drying

Oolong tea

1. Withering
2. Shaking and resting cycles
3. Heat fixation
4. Shaping
5. Drying

Black (Red) Tea

1. Withering
2. Rolling
3. Enzymatic oxidation
4. Drying

Dark (Black) Tea

1. Piling
2. Drying