The larger particles of tea are often cut into smaller bits and with the help of cutting machines before grading.
The grading of tea only refers to size of the processed leaf not the quality or flavor.
In term of packaging, for centuries the preferred method of packaging tea for transport was in the form of compressed cakes or bricks – this allowed greater value to be packed into a smaller volume. The earliest Dai (people of southeastern Himalayas) method of preserving and packaging tea was in bamboo.
Leaves were tamped into a bamboo section; the tea emerged as a hard thick cylinder when the bamboo was cracked open.
Modern packaging provides evidence of tampering, prolongs shelf life and assures aroma retention. Sales are further stimulated by enhancing presentation through attractive packaging.
Packing materials play an important role in product quality; teas stored in aluminum foil pouches and LDPE (low density polyethylene) bags retain their quality better than jute bags lined with polyethylene.
Retail packaging divides into two categories. Consumer packs consist of hard and soft formats. Marketing and promotion play a pivotal role in establishing the popularity of hard packs over soft packs and vice versa.
Packing of tea
