In most tea-growing regions across Asia, tea leaves are harvested seasonally. Generally, we can classify tea into three main categories based on the harvest time: spring, summer, and autumn tea, with a few regions also producing winter tea.

When it comes to harvesting, it's all about aligning the right time, place, and effort. Without favorable weather, even the best land and skilled workers can't produce high-quality tea leaves. Thus, the harvest time plays a crucial role in the yield and quality of tea.

Best Time to Harvest Tea

Spring is the ideal season for tea picking. During this time, rainfall is abundant, temperatures are mild, and the tea plants have rested through the winter, storing up plenty of nutrients. This makes spring the most vigorous growth period for tea plants, with new buds that are lush, tender, and full of fine hair. The leaves are rich in essential compounds, such as amino acids, soluble pectin, Vitamin C, and aromatic oils.

As a result, spring tea, especially the early spring tea, is known for its best quality and perfect harvest timing.

However, for certain types of tea, like black tea, summer is considered the best time to harvest. In summer, tea plants accumulate more polyphenols, which helps in the fermentation process of black tea, giving the leaves a deeper red and yellow hue and a more robust flavor.

Best Time of Day to Pick Tea

The best time of day to harvest tea is between 7 AM and 1 PM. If there are trees in the tea garden that provide shade, picking can also happen between 1 PM and 4 PM. The exact time may vary depending on the tea variety and region. In most tea-growing areas of Asia, tea harvested between March and May is known as spring tea, while tea harvested between June and July is called summer tea.

Summer tea tends to have a stronger bitter taste due to higher tea polyphenol content and is often used for black tea production. Meanwhile, autumn tea, harvested around August and September, has a more fragrant flavor, although it may not always be as high quality as spring tea due to the effects of pest control measures.

Why Spring Tea is Best?

While summer and autumn teas may have their place, spring tea remains the top pick for tea lovers. Summer teas can often have higher pesticide residues, as pest control during the hot months often requires chemical sprays. Autumn tea, after two rounds of harvesting in spring and summer, may also have older leaves with lower nutrient content. As a result, spring tea not only offers the best flavor but also has lower pesticide residues, making it the most desirable option for those looking for high-quality tea.

Tea Harvesting Techniques

When it comes to harvesting tea, technique is just as important as timing. A common method is graded picking, which means picking different parts of the tea plant at different times. This approach ensures that the highest quality leaves are selected and that various types of tea can be processed efficiently. By avoiding the common bad habit of indiscriminately picking both mature and young leaves, tea producers can significantly improve the quality of their harvest and increase the overall yield.

Timely Harvesting

It's essential to pick the tea leaves at the right moment. As the saying goes, “Pick three days earlier, and it's treasure; pick three days later, and it's trash.” Picking tea leaves at the right time ensures we get fresh leaves that yield high-quality tea. Timely harvesting also allows for faster regrowth, which means more harvests and increased income. Additionally, picking at the right time can help control pests and promote the growth of healthier, more productive tea plants.

Leave Some Leaves Behind

Tea plants are evergreen, with a natural shedding of leaves each year. This means we need to carefully manage the balance between harvesting and leaving enough leaves behind for the plant's growth. By adhering to a “pick the big leaves and leave the small ones” strategy, we can ensure the longevity and health of the tea plants. Additionally, picking at the right height and leaving enough leaves to maintain a healthy canopy can help keep the tea plant growing robustly for future harvests.

Conclusion

When it comes to tea harvesting, timing truly is everything. From the season to the time of day, each factor plays a critical role in ensuring the best possible tea quality. So, whether you're picking tea in spring or summer, remember that knowing when and how to pick can make all the difference in your cup of tea! We, as tea lovers and producers, must pay close attention to these nuances to cultivate the finest tea for ourselves and others.

Lykkers, what's your favorite tea season? Let us know in the comments below!