Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
Ashutosh N Chavan and Niket Dubey

Abstract:
Tea is the most widely consumed beverage worldwide and one of the most common and cheapest commodities. The final step in the processing of tea is drying, and uniformity in this step is crucial to maintaining the quality of the tea. This study compares contemporary drying techniques such as a tray, vacuum, solar vacuum, and greenhouse for CTC tea. The results reveal that solar vacuum drying and greenhouse drying are not as fast as a tray and vacuum drying but are economical and eco-friendly. Furthermore, drying takes place at lower temperatures, preserving tea's aroma and other essential constituents. Therefore, it is crucial to look for less expensive and more environmentally beneficial non-conventional sources of tea drying.