DIY tea harvest?
Posted: Jul 17th, '13, 07:38
I have a camellia sinensis plant in my garden that I estimate to be 30+ years old. It has recently occurred to me that I could attempt to process my own tea from in it the spring (September where I am).
Has anyone here done this before? It isn't a large plant but I pruned it quite aggressively in the fall and there are currently a lot of small leaf buds on it so I think I could make enough for at least tiny personal supply. I don't expect much in terms of quality either, other than a fun experiment and a closer connection to the drink I love.
The biggest question I have is what sort of tea I should (attempt to) make. The plant is almost always shaded except for a few hours in the morning and it has been quite a wet year. Do these factors seem to point to any particular kind of tea or should I just go with whatever I like? I was leaning towards an oolong because the process sounds most interesting.
I'd love to hear from anyone who has done a DIY tea harvest and any tips you have.
Has anyone here done this before? It isn't a large plant but I pruned it quite aggressively in the fall and there are currently a lot of small leaf buds on it so I think I could make enough for at least tiny personal supply. I don't expect much in terms of quality either, other than a fun experiment and a closer connection to the drink I love.
The biggest question I have is what sort of tea I should (attempt to) make. The plant is almost always shaded except for a few hours in the morning and it has been quite a wet year. Do these factors seem to point to any particular kind of tea or should I just go with whatever I like? I was leaning towards an oolong because the process sounds most interesting.
I'd love to hear from anyone who has done a DIY tea harvest and any tips you have.