Why is humidity control essential in tea production
Humidity control is essential for tea production during many stages of the production process, from the rolling, cutting, and fermentation stages to packing the tea into teabags. A lack of humidity can affect the fermentation process which consequently has an effect on the flavor, color, and aroma of the tea. The ideal humidity level depends on the stage in the process and the type of tea.
What humidity level is ideal for which type of tea
1: Black tea
Black tea requires a high level of humidity between 92-98% in order to prevent the leaves from drying out during the fermentation process.
2: Oolong tea
Oolong tea requires a lower humidity level than black tea (75-85%) because it’s only partially oxidized. This is to retain freshness in the leaves and too much moisture can cause the leaves to over-oxidize.
3: White tea
White tea requires an even lower humidity level than black tea and Oolong tea (45-55%). White tea relies on a slow drying process to develop its sweet and floral taste. If the humidity level is too high, it could cause moisture to “trap” in the leaves and thereby prevent these aromas from developing.
4: Green tea
Green tea usually requires dehumidification as it needs a very dry environment to stop oxidation completely.
Which type of humidification system is most suitable for tea?
Steam humidification
Steam humidification has long been praised for its hygienic, precise, and efficient humidification control in tea processing.
However, due to the high energy consumption, high investment costs, risks of over-humidification and difficult maintenance, it is no longer the preferred option amongst most tea manufacturers.
Adiabatic humidification
Adiabatic humidification is the best choice for humidification control of tea due to its high energy efficiency, reliability and low investment cost. However, many adiabatic humidification systems produce large droplets which may harm machinery or wet the tea leaves.
Dry Fog humidification
Ikeuchi recommends Dry Fog humidification control in tea processing. Our AKIMist® Dry Fog humidifier is known for its tiny droplet size around 7.5 µm. The droplets are so small that they bounce back without bursting on any surfaces. In addition, AKIMist is extremely energy efficient with an energy-cost ratio up to 80% lower than steam. AKIMist also has the added advantage of dust suppression, which can be a serious issue in tea processing plants.
Prevent static build-up during tea-bag filling process
Prevent static build-up during the tea-bag filling process with humidity control. By maintaining a relative humidity level around 50-60%, problems caused by static electricity can be prevented such as tea bags clinging together or the tea from sticking to the filling funnel. AKIMist® also suppresses dust due to its tiny droplet size
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