Influence of withering, including leaf handling, on the manufacturing and quality of black teas - a review

Literature on the influence of withering on maceration, fermentation and drying and on black tea quality is reviewed. The importance of including the handling of the leaf in the field and during transportation as an integral part of withering is stressed. The influence of physical and chemical changes in the green leaf, during withering, on the quality of black teas is discussed. Withering practices vary with climate, producing region, the type of manufacturing process and demands by the markets. Mechanised withering may improve quality by reduced handling of the leaf. The influence of plucking standards on withering and the effect of withering on the storage of tea are discussed.