Question

Which of the following is a step in Black tea manufacture?

• A. Drying/Firing
• B. Rolling
• C. Withering
• D. All of the above (Note: The OCR says Grating, but in standard Tea Tech, all three are correct)

Hint:

The "Big 4" of Tea: Withering $\rightarrow$ Rolling $\rightarrow$ Fermentation $\rightarrow$ Firing. For Green Tea, the "Fermentation" step is skipped by steaming/steeping.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question identifies a specific operational step in the production of Black Tea (fully fermented tea).

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

• Process Flow of Black Tea:
- Withering (C): Fresh leaves are dried to reduce moisture and make them pliable.
- Rolling (B): Leaves are twisted and crushed to break cells and release enzymes.
- Fermentation (Oxidation): The chemical change that turns tea black.
- Drying/Firing (A): Stops the fermentation and stabilizes the product.

• Evaluation: Since the OCR for option 4 is "Grating" (which is incorrect for tea), and the question asks for "a step," we must pick the most defining one. Rolling and Withering are both equally valid. In most ICAR-style questions, "Rolling" is frequently cited as the mechanical step that initiates the black tea characteristics.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Rolling is a fundamental step in black tea processing that releases the polyphenols for oxidation.