Tea making is an art and a science. Stirring tea leaves at home not only allows you to experience the joy of this ancient craft, but also enjoy the unique aroma of tea made by your own hands. Whether you're a tea lover or want to try your hand at DIY production, this guide will take you step-by-step through how to stir-fry tea at home.
Picking fresh tea leaves
The first step in stir-frying tea is to select and pick the right tea leaves. Generally speaking, spring is the best season for picking tea leaves, when they are the most tender and green and have a strong aroma. When picking, select the buds and young leaves, so that the best quality of tea can be produced.
lay out
The picked tea leaves need to be spread in a cool and ventilated place to allow the tea leaves to wither naturally and evaporate some of the water. This process takes about 1-2 hours and the tea leaves will become softer and ready for the next frying.
finalize
Greening is a key step in the production of green tea to remove some of the water and enzyme activity from the tea leaves in order to maintain the green color of the tea. Freshly picked tea leaves are put into a preheated pot and quickly stir-fried over medium-high heat. This process lasts for about 5-10 minutes until the tea leaves become soft and fragrant.
torture
After greening, the tea leaves need to be kneaded in order to mold the tea leaves and release the tea juice, thus increasing the aroma and taste of the tea.
There are two methods of kneading: hot kneading and cold kneading. For young leaves, cold kneading can preserve their color and aroma, while for old leaves, hot kneading is more suitable. During the kneading process, the strength can be adjusted according to the need; light kneading makes the tea leaves into strips, while heavy kneading makes them into balls.
uninteresting
After kneading, the tea leaves need to be further dried to remove excess water and to set the shape. There are three methods of drying: sun-drying, stir-frying and roasting. At home, you can choose to dry the tea leaves on a baking tray in the oven at a low temperature or directly in the sun. This process requires careful control of temperature and time to avoid over-drying or burning of the tea leaves.
stockpile
When the tea is ready, cool it and store it in an airtight container. This will keep the tea fresh and fragrant so that you can always enjoy your handmade tea.
concluding remarks
Stir frying tea is not only a skill, but also a cultural heritage. Through your own hands, turning a piece of ordinary tea leaves into a cup of aromatic tea is an indescribable sense of fulfillment. I hope this article can help you understand how to stir-fry tea leaves, maybe next time, you can show off your stir-frying skills in front of your friends.