How to grow your own tea!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ค. 2024
- In this video we are talking about what plant to grow to get tea, how to harvest the tea and how to process and create your own tea to drink!
I hope you enjoyed the video and as promised here are the recipes for tea making:
Green Tea-
*pluck the young leaves and leaf buds (in early spring)
*Dry the leaves with a napkin or cloth and let dry in the shade during the heat of the day for 3 to 4 hours.
*Dice or chop the leaves with a knife until they are broken down into small pieces.
*Steam the leaves for about 1 min or roast them in a pan for about 2 min.
*spread the diced up leaves out on a pan and dry in the over for 20 min and 250 degrees Fahrenheit
*Either store in an air tight container or use immediately to brew tea.
Black Tea-
*pluck the young leaves and leaf buds (any time in season)
*Roll the leaves between your hands or with a rolling pin to crush them. Stop when they darken and turn red.
*Spread them out and let dry in cool location for 2 to 3 days.
*Spread the leaves out on a pan and dry in the over for 20 min and 250 degrees Fahrenheit
*Either store in an air tight container or use immediately to brew tea.
Oolong Tea-
*pluck the young leaves and leaf buds (in early spring)
*Spread the leaves on a napkin or cloth and let dry in the sun for 45 min.
*Bring the leaves inside and let them sit at room temp for about 4 hours stirring them up or moving them around every hour.
*Spread the leaves out on a pan and dry in the over for 20 min and 250 degrees Fahrenheit
*Either store in an air tight container or use immediately to brew tea.
Link to the Green Dream Project to see the history of growing tea: • Growing Tea Plants (Ca...
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Cool! I didn't realize all the teas came from the same plant. Thanks for sharing!
actually tea have many varieties just like any other variety. Let say peach for example, you can say there is only one type of peach, but to others, there are so many varieties among peaches. It is true that different types of tea can be produce by one tea plant by way of how you process it. It can go from natural green to dark (roasted or fermented)
Awesome information Ray! Super informative as always. Funny how we were both thinking of the tea plant. Great minds!😀
We're so happy you liked our video, thanks for mentioning us!🙏
Green Dream Project I’m so glad y’all liked it.
Great job on the facts Ray.
Wow, I loved this. I didn't know this info and I love tea. I am going to look into getting me a tea plant. Thanks a bunch!
Patti Gilbert your welcome. I’m so glad you liked it.
I'm so glad you did this video because I've been thinking about wanting to grow things so we can make tea
Thank you very much for these instructions. I've been searching high and low for processing info!
You are welcome!
This is Awesome information 🤩 Thanks for sharing!!
Just got 2 tea plants from Logees today, thanks for the great advice. Really helpful!!
This was very informative and helpful thanks for sharing!!
This was great! Would LOVE to get my hands on one of these! I found some wild bergamot growing in our woods..I transplanted some to the yard. I also have a domesticated type as well. Earl Grey is my favorite!
Thank you so so much! I am looking forward to harvesting my own little batch of tea 😍🌱
Thank you I really appreciate the help as well as the recipes
Great video I Learned something new.Thanks for sharing.
Awesome information thanks bud
Thanks for sharing.
I just got a tea plant this week! Great video. ❤
Awesome video. I have always wonder how to grow tea.
Hi Ray, I'm Ray Harris... I love your video... Thanks so much for making this video.
Glad you enjoyed it. 😁
Thank you for this video!!! Im saving it... great info! I love your videos- so easy to understand 😍
Mimsy’s Garden -Anna thank you so much you made my day. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Horticulture Geek you’re so welcome!!!
Thank you! This has been the best video and information on growing your own tea that I have come across
Glad it was helpful!
I love this
Thank you!
Great video. I just bought some at lowes.
Thanks, this was really helpful! I am based in Italy and conscious of food kms, so it occurred to me to try growing my own tea. I love your description of American tea as being 'different'!! As an English person who has always drunk tea, that was very diplomatic 😄
Lol, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 😁
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, I want to grow my own tea tree for processing the different types of teas as you explained, I wish you would be doing some demonstration while explaining…
Just got my first tea plant! I am so excited! Do I have to wait for the plant to get to a certain height or age before I can start harvesting leaves?
Not really. However the older the plant the better the taste will be as it will have better roots to feed to new leaves. If you do harvest some while the plant is small just don’t take too much. You don’t want to shock the plant.
thanks great video
Just got my first tea plant. I hope it will make it here in Washington. Zone 8B. Debating on leaving in a pot or direct ground. Actually, may just get a couple more so I can experiment. Thanks for this helpful video. I also just "liked" your FB page so you may start seeing my comments there. I love gardening. I'm not a professional, just enjoy being out there.
You are PLENTY warm enough in zone 8-b. Put in in the ground in natural soil of the area. It is also plenty acidic for it. I dont know why there are not already abundant tea farms there by now. Hurry up and get that planted.
@@inharmonywithearth9982 Thanks for your reply. You are correct! They are doing great so far even with all the unusual cold weather and rain this year. One plant has survived a rabbit eating on it. Bet the bunny had a ton of energy, LOL
Nice video HG...I was glad to hear the pruning info. So are you going to prune that lower so it branches out more?
I was watching a PBS program on white tea production and the clip showed their field plants were about 3' tall. It would be interesting to dig a little more and see what else we can find out on pruning. Commercial field production practices may not benefit our gardens, but if we grow it as food it might be good to know.
Being a plant nerd I very much enjoy the sweet little flowers of C. sinensis, maybe even more than its blousey flowering cousins. When I worked at Portland Nusery we called the big flowers that fell from the showy cousin "Camelia bombs"...they do not die gracefully like the tea Camerlia flowers do. The price one pays for big flowers... sigh.
There are different varieties of tea Camelua available on the mwrket for home gardeners now oo. I recommend perople look around online and let local nurseries know of some of these as they may be unaware and willing to carry them in the future.
Also recommend chrcking out some of the books on it as well. It's an interesting look into history and plant culture that brings a new appreciation for tea that adds to the enjoyment of drinking it.
Here in Portlsnd Oregon we are blessed to have the Lan Su Chinese Garden with its tea house here. I highly recommend if anyone is visiting here that you task in this beautiful botanic garden and take time for the tea service.
Great video! I'd love to grow tea but I don't know how well it would do in my zone,6B.
10K Subs No Videos zone 6 is pushing it. If you have a very protected spot in your garden you could give it a try. The cold will burn the flower buds for sure but if your growing it for tea you don’t really need the flowers anyway. If you find one you could certainly give it a try and see what it does.
May our HOLY Heavenly Papa GOD BLESS YOU Sir forevermore for sharing this video with Sooo Much honest wisdom about precious 💕 tea. Today is 23th of Dec 2022, wishing you happy Merry Christmas Time .
Humble respectfully greetings from Suriname
Thanks man
You are welcome!
Such great info now just Wondering if I can have a patio potted Camilla Sinesis since I am in zone 10b?
Momma Woods you could give it a try. It prefers moderate climates for sure but in your zone I would worry about it not going through it’s dormant period and then not developing its flavor profile. If you planted it in a cooler, protected area I would think you could get tea it would just taste a little different. You should ask a local garden center if it can be done.
Good idea, I still need to make calls to my local extension office as I am in the planning stage for growing food. Perhaps under a canopy in dappled light away from the heat that reflects off my house. Who knows maybe I will create an awesome flavor profile. lol I know the zone above me can grow the wild rose for rose hips and I want to find out which hibiscus variety is the herbal tea variety too. My goal is spices and tea plants along with medicinals under a canopy of lychees and starfruit/carambola and other tropicals to then try and create a sort of zone change in the back portion of my yard. Not sure it will work, and I need to get my trees in soon because our Summer time would not be prudent. Thank you for your video and info on preparing the plant for various teas. I was an Art Teacher for 7 years and you remind me of a professional Teacher just by how well you taught us all this info.
You can prune and grow tea on a slant also. Think the side of a slope versus a tabletop. This will increase your yields by about 25%
Great tip. Thanks!
😊😊😋😋👍👍👍👍
I am waiting for my tea plant seeds to come.
Hi, I recieved a .7gal tea plant from HD. Its a little taller than 2ft and it has a lot of flowers on it right now... should I cut off the flowers if I want the tree to grow more leaves? I'm in phx, AZ and its now 65F high and 40-45low... look like spring is coming early thus year. Thanks. Great video BTW.
Not necessarily. You can definitely remove the flowers if you want so the plant can focus on root production sine it is freshly planted. Once the roots are established the plant will thrive. Pinching the tips of the branches will also encourage branching and fresh leaf growth. Hope this helps.
@@HorticultureGeek thank you.
Thank you for doing this video. It was truly helpful. How many years old does my tea plant need to be before I am able to get a full bodied flavor? I've heard 4-5 years. I hope this isn't the case :)
Hi Hawk, I am no expert but the short answer is this... It depends largely on your climate and growing conditions. If the plant is in a cooler climate it will grow more slowly and take longer. Generally you can begin harvesting after 2 years. The 4-5 year mark generally refers to time it takes the plant to grow large enough to truly allow you to harvest lots of leaves. With that said, yes the age of the plant and it’s state of development can affect its flavor but don’t let that discourage you from harvesting and creating your own tea prior to that mark.
Hey! Do you know if you could use a dehydrater instead of baking in the oven?
I have never tried it but I don’t see any reason why that would not work. The end result should be the same.
Super interesting! You’ve opened my eyes today, thank you. How long can the dried leaves be stored in an airtight container?
Typically about 2 years if they are stored in the airtight container away from heat and light.
Typically about 2 years if they are stored in the airtight container away from heat and light.
Love this video. Thanks so much for this helpful information! Do you know roughly how many leafs equals 2 cups of tea? Thanks bunches!
I don’t know an exact amount for sure but I think roughly 1 teaspoon full of dried leaves will make a cup of tea.
@@HorticultureGeek Thank you so much!
I wonder if you could dehydrate the leaves in a dehydrator in larger quantities?
Mimsy’s Garden -Anna I’m sure you could. I have wondering the same thing. I have no experience with dehydrators so I can’t give you any helpful advice on it. 🤣
Where did you get yours? (: I would LOVE to grow my own tea!!
SoulYates I actually got mine at the Arkansas flower and garden show. The grower is Mizell’s Camellia Hill Nursery.
SoulYates You can order online! I ordered 2!
dreyno64 I definitely will when we move! (:
Your TH-cam I found it informative it's so simple to understand and it's stimulating thank you I've just brought myself a tea plant and I want to harvest black tea so all your info was so useful so practical. Also just wondering the plant I'm getting is only a baby plant so how long does it take before you can actually harvest from the plant how long does it take for a tea plant to grow..😊
You can definitely harvest a small amount the first year but you want to let the plant rest for at least a good year to get established into its spot. On your second spring when the new leaves flush out you should be good to go for a big harvest.
Is it okay to just walk out pick a few leaves and just drop them right in the water? Cause thats what i do with my peppermint and its great. Cause all that drying sounds like too much hassle unless winter is coming
You absolutely can make tea with fresh picked leaves. It will just have a different taste than leaves that have been dried. The drying process also preserves the tea so fresh leaves would need to be used quickly just like with any other fresh picked herbal tea. Hope that helps.
For the black tea what's a good place for them to dry in a cool area I can only think of a fridge for the 2 or 3 days
I always think about a basement or root cellar. I have neither at my house but I do have a closet in my garage that stays cool so I typically put items there. If you can’t think of anything like that a refrigerator would work as long as don’t keep it too cold you don’t want to freeze the leaves. Hope that answer is helpful.
@@HorticultureGeek ah ok thank you because I live in a apartment and I only have a fridge
Great video!....I'm growing Camellia Sinensis alongside the Yaupon Holly!....Tea for days!......Please try the US native tea and tell me what you think (-;
Just got my first tea tree. I live in St. Louis, MO so it's scary to keep it / plant it outside. I plan on keeping it in my office. Maybe you can answer a few things...
1. My is about 3' tall and lots of big leaves. It's Nov, should I just leave it alone until spring (other than watering)?
2. Should I remove some of the big, old leaves? Or just leave them because trees do need some leaves for photosynthesis!
3. How MANY leaves? Just top the plant all the time or such? How have you been most successful?
4. Some of the big leaves were in the bottom of the box when it arrived so I dried them like you said wow. So nice.
5. Since I'll be keeping it inside (maybe outside in the St. Louis summers), do you recommend a plant light? I have a lot of desert plants in my office and use a light for them.
Thanks for your video... it is the first I found that condensed things I was concerned about (growing, care, harvesting). Well done.
So glad you liked the video. First thing first it is a camellia so it will be happiest outside. I would recommend you go to a reputable garden center and ask them the best way to care for camellias in your area. With that being said camellias can be lost to extreme cold so in St Louis I think keeping planted in a container that allows you to bring it inside during the worst winter months is probably a good idea and yes I would put it under a grow light to help it be as happy as possible while it is inside.
I wouldn’t worry or mess with older leaves. Just leave them alone and let the plant naturally drop them when it’s ready. You want the tender new leaves for your tea. The plant will naturally produce fresh leaves a few times a year and that is when you want to primarily do a bulk harvest.
Keep it well watered without drowning it and I suspect it will do just fine. Hopefully this helps. Good luck with it.
@@HorticultureGeek , Thanks for the tips.
I just got my very own tea plant, and it's full of buds. Do you think i should leave them on, or would it harm the plant by diverting all its energy into producing flowers?
Now is its natural flowering time so I leave the plant alone during this time because I enjoy the blooms. The plant should not be harmed by letting it flower.
@@HorticultureGeek thank you!
i can't seem to find plants so I will have to start my plants from seed is there any tips and tricks for starting them from seed?
I don’t have any direct experience growing tea from seed but a great resource is www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/tea-plant/growing-tea-from-seed.htm
Just wondering if you used any soil bought from Home Depot or Lowes for your tea plants ?
I’m buying some tea plants and am not sure what soil they will do well with.
Any info you could share would be awesome, I’m in zone 8 north Texas. Thx.
I planted mine into my native soil. If you are wanting to amend your soil I would get a compost or manure. If you planting in a container you need a pitting soil mix and I would incorporate some compost as well.
A newbie ! Can you grow a Tea Tree in a container??
Absolutely. Here is a great resource with lots of info. plantaddicts.com/growing-camellias-in-pots/
Hi Ray! You'll sound like Gomer Pyle!!! Can you you sing like Jim Nabors too?
Do you ever do anything with the buds??
I have not yet.
What about the flowers? Are they ever used in the tea?
Hi Dreyno64 I have not heard of using the flowers before in tea making. Sorry I could not be more help on this question.
If i pick a ton of leaves and get a gallon & put it in the fridge. How long would that last?
I’m honestly not sure. My initial thought is that if you put fresh leaves in the fridge I’m afraid they would mold. The leaves should be dried for long term storage.
@HorticultureGeek good point. I'm thinking if I turn it into liquid tea and fill a gallon jug that it should last as long as water would. Maybe. I'm not sure either. I drink a ton of green tea so I'm thinking about growing this tea Plant. I go through a gallon of store bought tea every 3 to 4 days.
Are they all picked during the spring
No. You can pick all through the growing season giving the plant 7 to 10 days between picking to let the plant rejuvenate. For black tea the leaves are generally picked during July & August at peak summer heat.
May I ask if there’s a global website where I can get the seeds safely ?
I am not sure. I bought this plant from a camellia grower at a garden show.
@@HorticultureGeek oh okay thanks either way!
I wonder what would happen if you cured the leaves like tobacco or cannabis. Slow dry over a 12 day period at 60 % humidity give or take at 60 Fahrenheit.
I have had tea seeds in a planter now for about 5 months and not a single one of them has sprouted. Have kept it moist and indoors. Never again.
When should I plant them in the ground?
The best time is early spring before the summer heat set in. Depending on where you live now should be a good time.
@@HorticultureGeek I’m in mid alabama so we are still planting so I might still have a small window left. Thank you. Love your channel very detailed and easy to understand. Thanks again.
Can you make matcha?
Matcha does come from this type of tea plant. The difference is that it is typically grown and processed in 2 regions of Japan. You could certainly try to make your own if you found the drying and powdering process but not sure it would taste the same without being grown in those Japanese regions since growing conditions impact flavor.
Where do I get this plant or seeds
queenedds I got mine from Mizell’s Camellia Nursery. They are located in Louisiana but they set up booths at garden shows and I believe you can order online.
Thank you
How do I seed it?
I have never tried to grow one from a seed I always just buy a plant. It’s a lot easier that way. 😂😁
I was hoping to learn HOW TO PROPAGATE, cutting from the top of the plant, what type of growing medium, etc.
I did learn from you in this episode so thank you!
I doubt chamomile tea ??
No that is actually made from chamomile plants not tea plants.
Ordered $20 worth of tea seeds (about 20 seeds) and not one seed germinated.
Sorry to hear that.
I watched several videos on tea production and I like yours the best! I might be a little prejudiced because I'm also a southerner had I really didn't like your presentation and your explanation. Thank you
Thank you.
I bought tea plants to get rid of that crappy taste in American teas 😂