Tea Picking and Sencha Making at Home 茶摘みと手作り茶

I went to 茶摘み Chatsumi (tea-picking) in Wazuka-cho in Kyoto.

I could bring the tea leaves I picked on the day, so I tried Sencha making at home.

I followed the recipe for making Sencha with an electric griddle (electric hot plate).

〔What You Prepare〕 ・fresh tea leaves (50~100 g)　・cardboard or news paper　・Saran Wrap (plastic clingfilm)　・microwave　・electric griddle　・cotton gloves　・chopstick　・ paper towel 

〇 Wash tea leaves and dry them for the preparation.

〇1. Steam the tea leaves to stop oxidation (fermentation). Wrap the leaves by the Saran Wrap and heat them in a microwave for 1 minute.　※ Until you smell like steamed potato.

〇2. Spread the steamed leaves on the cardboard (or news paper) and cool them down. Then, rub the leaves with palms to extract moisture and component in them.

〇3. Put the tea leaves on an electric griddle which is heated to the warming-mode ～ 150℃ for drying. Stir the leaves with chopsticks and dry. When the outside of the leaves is dried, take them out on the cardboard, wearing cotton gloves. And rub the leaves again. Repeat drying and rubbing for several times.

〇4. Put paper towel on the electric griddle (which is set warming -more) and spread the tea leaves on it for 15～20 min. If you feel the leaves crispy, it's finished ! 

※ Tea Tempura and Hojicha Chagayu (tea gruel).