The provided diagram illustrates the processes for manufacturing tea using two different methods: the traditional method and the modern method.
Overall, both methods involve five main processes. While the stages are largely similar, there is a key difference in the third process where the leaves are prepared differently for each method.
The first step in both methods is the same: picking high-quality tea leaves, including only the bud and two top leaves. In the second process, the leaves undergo withering, where air is passed through the leaves on a rack to reduce their moisture content by 60%.
In the third process, the methods diverge. In the traditional method, the leaves are rolled to release enzymes, which helps in the fermentation process for loose-leaf tea. In contrast, the modern method involves cutting, tearing, and curling the leaves to prepare them for tea bags.
After this, both methods follow the same steps: the leaves undergo oxidation, where they turn a copper color, before being fired and dried in an oven to eliminate 97% of moisture and preserve flavor and aroma.