Buying tea is easy, but it's even more satisfying if you can pick tea from the trees you grow yourself. Fortunately, tea is fairly easy to grow and can thrive in a variety of climates. Also, you can make several types of tea from the same plant, depending on how the tea leaves are processed. It takes about a few years for the tea tree to mature enough to be harvested. So, be patient, take good care of the plants, and you too will enjoy your homemade tea for years to come.
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Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Seeds
Step 1. Purchase Camellia sinensis seeds for best results
The tea plant has two main types. Sinensis is recommended because the plant is hardy and you can make black, green, and white teas from the leaves. You can buy seeds from your local nursery or online.
- You will need about 1 m² of space once the sinensis begins to grow.
- Assamica is another type of tea plant. This plant is also suitable for breeding in tropical climates. Assamica is a large plant so it needs at least 1.5 meters of space once it starts growing. You can make the same kind of tea from this plant as you can from sinensis.
Step 2. Grow the tea as a sapling if you want to jump straight into the growing process
You also have the option of cutting stems from existing plants or purchasing seedlings from the nursery. Select this option if you don't want to skip the seed germination process. If you choose to grow your tea from saplings or cuttings, the plants should be treated indoors for a year before being moved outside.
In subtropical areas, it is better to grow tea indoors during the spring or fall and move it outdoors in the spring or fall of the following year as this is the best time to grow tea
Step 3. Soak the seeds
Put the tea seeds in a bowl or container filled with water. Make sure there is enough water so that the seeds are completely submerged. Soak for 24-48 hours. Soaking will help the seeds absorb water thereby speeding up the germination process.
Step 4. Transfer the tea seeds to a container of vermiculite
Remove the seeds from the water and place each 2-3 seeds in a different place. Put the container in a warm and bright place. Spray the seeds to moisturize them. Wait a few minutes for the seeds to return to their normal air temperature. After that, cover it with 2.5 cm of coarse vermiculite (a brown mineral that helps the seeds retain moisture). Allow the seeds to germinate for 6-8 weeks.
- The number of containers you use will depend on how many seeds you want to plant.
- You can buy rough vermiculite at a plant supply store.
Step 5. Keep the vermiculite moist
For 6-8 weeks, check the vermiculite daily for moisture levels. If it's dry, water it. However, do not get muddy. The growing medium must remain moist at all times.
It's a good idea to use a spray bottle to avoid over-watering
Step 6. Make sure the seeds have germinated perfectly
After 6-8 weeks, check to see if the tea seeds have germinated. Germinated seeds will grow small roots and a pair of leaves. Each seed germinates at a different rate. So, wait until most or all of them have germinated, then transferred to pots.
Part 2 of 3: Planting Tea Trees
Step 1. Separate and plant the tea in the pot
Seeds will grow into tillers after germination for 6-8 weeks. At that time, the saplings will have 3-4 leaves. Plant each tea sapling in a separate pot filled with acidic soil with an ideal pH range of 6 - 6.5. Place the pot in a warm, partially shaded area. Spray the soil regularly to keep it moist.
- You can buy acid soil from your local nursery.
- Test the soil pH to see if it is acidic enough. Otherwise, make it more sour. To test soil pH, use a pH test strip. A color code is available to let you know the acidity of the soil.
- If it's less acidic, you can make it more acidic by adding elements like sulfur and pine leaf.
Step 2. Plant tea in the rainy season for best results
Because it is a parenial plant, tea can be grown at any time of the year, as long as the weather is not freezing. Tea can withstand light frosts, but does not grow well in very cold climates. However, tea trees are better planted in the rainy season than in the dry season.
In subtropical and tropical climates, tea can be grown at any time
Step 3. Transfer the tea to a new pot or plant it in the garden
After reaching about 20 cm in height, the plant should be removed. If transplanted into a new pot, make sure it is large enough to accommodate a lot of root growth. Pot measuring 15 cm is sufficient. If you're growing it indoors, put it at least 1 meter apart so the plant has room to grow.
- The soil should be slightly acidic.
- If planted outside, add sand to the soil to ensure good drainage. If grown indoors, add spagnum moss to the pot.
- Plant the tea in a partially light and partially shaded area. This means that the tea plant must get 6 hours of sun exposure every day.
Step 4. Water the tea every day
This tea plant is strong and does not need frequent fertilization. However, it must be watered regularly. Flush the tea with soft water (low mineral water) to keep the acidity level right. The soil should be moist to the touch, but not soggy.
If the plants look less fertile, provide ericaceous nutrition, which is a type of fertilizer with a high acidity level. Spread about 2.5 cm of fertilizer around the plant
Step 5. Protect plants from snow
Tea plants are best grown in places that are warm, but can survive cold and drought. However, it is best to move the tea to a warmer place during the winter. Put the plant in shade or in a greenhouse during low-temperature winters. As a general rule, it is best to remove the plant when the temperature drops below 0 °C.
If the tea is grown outdoors, dig it out carefully and transfer it to a pot filled with soil
Step 6. Wait a few years for the plants to mature
It takes about three years for the tea tree to mature. This means that you cannot harvest the leaves before that. Once the tea tree reaches a height of about 1 meter, the leaves are ready to be harvested.
Part 3 of 3: Harvesting Tea Leaves
Step 1. Pick 2-3 bright green leaves
Once the plant reaches a height of about 1 meter, the leaves are ready to be harvested. Usually, the leaves will grow thicker in the rainy season than in the dry season. To harvest it, use your fingers and thumb to pluck 3-4 bright green leaves. These green leaves are ready to be used as tea drinks.
Step 2. Harvest several times throughout the season
Tea leaves can be harvested many times throughout the season. Just pluck whenever you see some bright green leaves appearing to help the plant grow faster.
Prune the tea tree to a height of 1 meter when it grows taller than that
Step 3. Pick the young leaves that are not yet open to make a white tea drink
White tea is made from leaves that have not fully opened. Better, pick it on warm days. Dry outside in the sun all day long. After that, remove the stalks and roast in a dry, hot skillet for 2-3 minutes. Cool the tea leaves and store in an airtight container.
Step 4. Make green tea
To make green tea, place the bright green leaves in the shade for a few hours. After that, you can put it in the rice cooker or roast it on a hot, dry skillet for a few minutes. Then, roast the tea leaves for 20 minutes at 120 °C. Cool the leaves and store in an airtight container if you don't want to fry them right away.
- Tea leaves will stay dry if stored in an airtight container and can last up to several years. However, it is better to use the tea before a year has passed.
- By using a rice cooker, green tea will have a more earthy taste. To make green tea in a rice cooker, first put a water absorbent paper in it. Then, turn on the setting to "Warm" mode (warm). Add a thin layer of tea leaves. Do not close the rice cooker until the cooking process is complete. Allow the tea leaves to heat for 3-4 hours.
Step 5. Make black tea
Grind the freshly picked leaves by hand until they turn dark in color. After that, lay it out on a flat surface and place it in a cool place for 2-3 days. Strain the tea leaves as soon as possible or store them in an airtight container. The tea leaves will last for several years if the container is tightly closed.
Alternatively, dry the leaves by roasting them for 20 minutes in an oven preheated to 120 °C
Step 6. Process the leaves into oolong tea
Let the fresh leaves dry in the sun for 30 minutes to 1 hour. After that, take it inside and let it sit for 10 hours, stirring every hour. Dry the leaves in an oven at 120 °C for 10-12 minutes. After that, drain or store in an airtight container.
Make sure the container is tightly closed. Tea leaves can last for several years if kept dry
Step 7. Make the tea
Put some tea leaves in a tea bag or tea strainer. Dip into boiling water. Steep for at least 3 minutes, then remove the bag. To sweeten, add sugar, honey, or artificial sweetener. Enjoy your tea.
You can also mix the tea with herbs like lavender for a floral flavour. Add a little more lavender than the amount of tea leaves, unless you want a very strong herbal scent
Tips
- After growing, tea plants can produce leaves for 50-100 years.
- Make your own tea flavor by adding herbs like lavender and jasmine.
- You can buy tea tree saplings from a plant store or nursery if in doubt about germinating from scratch.
