Method of hardening tea leaves in preparation for fermentation

[Zachary]

Zachary, Hello. This is the first time I make tea, and besides, they suggested that it is better to start according to your method. In this regard, the question is, before the first freezing, the leaves must be wilted or, alive, can you fill them in the milk bottle? You just write that the leaves lay on the table for almost a day in a bag, they probably wilted there.

Hello to all tea-makers! In winter, I first found Lyudmila's topic and realized right away that I would look forward to summer with double impatience. Previously, only dried herbs-leaves-petals-flowers for tea. And now I will do fermented. And since summer has already begun, the berries are already decent in our trees and shrubs ... so there are now two packets of mix leaves in the freezer (raspberries, black currants, blueberries, blackberries) and (cherries, apricots, rose hips, mulberries, felt cherries) and a package with cherry leaves.
I prepared one package using Lyudmila's technology and tomorrow I will twist and dry it. And tomorrow I will take out two bags prepared using Zacharias technology for defrosting and then freezing again. In this regard, the question arose ... although I read the topic for almost a week, looked through the photo ...
Zakhary, tell me, please ... did you have transparent bags or, as in supermarkets, colored with the store's logo? The photo shows transparent bags everywhere, and I collected them in colored ones, left them to dry. And in them I sent for freezing 1 kg in each. And only now the question arose ... is it necessary to freeze only in transparent bags for defrosting in the sun or are opaque ones suitable?
Thanks to everyone who shares their experience, their best practices!

[Zachary]

Of course, in the hardening recipe there is no way to correct this pass.

Zachary, made an amendment about leaf wilting. Look, did you do everything right?

Added Sunday 05 Jun 2016 07:16

Borkovna, welcome to the forum and tea topics! We are very glad to see you! Let's make tea together!

And only now the question arose ... is it necessary to freeze only in transparent bags for defrosting in the sun or are opaque ones suitable?

Borkovna, the transparency of the packages does not matter. The main thing here is warm!

and I collected in colored ones, left them to dry. And in them I sent for freezing 1 kg in each.

Drying is not necessary in bags, but on a cloth or wrapped in a cloth (best of all), and then in a bag and a freezer.

I use old tea towels, sheets, pillowcases, cotton and linen for drying the leaves.
I do not wash them with powder, soap solution or just in clean water, so that there are no foreign odors.
This year, for the first time, I dried leaves without washing, as it rained and the leaf was clean.
Wrapping the leaves while damp will leave dark leaf marks on the fabric, so this fabric is only for tea.
I erase only after the end of the season.
More often I roll the fabric with the leaves, it is more convenient, it takes up less space.
Wrote for new tea makers ...

Allochka, I do the same, old sheets, pillowcases, just a cloth, just used for withering.

Lyudmila, thank you very much for the warm welcome! My name is Elena, I am from Dnepropetrovsk. I filled in this data during registration, but for some reason they are not shown. Thank you very much for your reply.
Nadezhda, I was withering one packet in a linen sheet, as written in Lyudmila's recipe.Now I looked at Zachariah's recipe and checked it against a printout from 4 days ago. The printout says ... on Sunday evening I brought the sheet, it stayed in the bags overnight in the kitchen, and lay there until the next evening. I sent it to the freezer for the night. So she did ... 2 kg.
Today there was a clarification in the recipe, and the bags have already been in the sun for two hours. Girls, tell me, please, what should I do next? Or 2 kg of leaves already have nothing to help?

[Borkovna]

Borkovna, Elena, don't throw anything away. Continue making tea further with the recipe.

[IrinaSakura]

and before the first freezing, the leaves must be wilted or, alive, can you fill it in the mlrozilka?

IrinaSakura, Irina, the leaves must be WEREED first (for any cooking method) !!!!
Here is a quote from Zakhar: ".... On Sunday I brought pear leavesand, wilted, put them in bags and they remained in bags overnight in the kitchen, and lay there until the evening of the next day. "See, he says" ... brought ..., wilted, put in bags .... "separated by commas? dry, then in a bag!
And read the withering in the recipe (described in detail there) and for girls francevna, (post number 54 from today) and elena kadiewa, (post number 55).
Good luck in your tea business!

Forgive me for getting in with the "lessons", but I remember how I myself started making tea last year, how many questions and misunderstandings there were. I want everything to work out right away and well!

Alla, girls, thanks for the advice and support to the newbie

Today there was a clarification in the recipe,

and thank God!!!!
Lena, it looks like you and I are on the same "rake"
I also re-read the recipe several times and could not understand: take it out of the bag or not? at first I wanted my package to "lie in the kitchen" like Zachari's
then I went to the topic of Luda, I read from her, it seems I need to wither
I thought, thought and decided that both authors would be "satisfied" with the students, spread the leaves on a sheet, lay there for about 8 hours, and then in the evening put it in a bag and closed it for the night. In the morning, the first thing for the package, the smell is beautiful, but the leaf in the veins crunched (((
I need to leave, and what to do next, I have identified the package in the freezer
Now I returned and immediately behind the laptop, hoping to see Zakhariya's answer to Irina Sakura's question
And here it is HAPPINESS - how many tips !!!!!!!!!!!! thank you ALL girls
and most importantly, the text was edited on 1 page
I think my tea will work out too, because I make it myself with love and I feel this love and help from all tea makers

[lydia]

lydia, tea will definitely work out, especially made with love! It cannot be otherwise.

tea will definitely work out, especially made with love!

Allochka, thanks for your support
Now I read the comments in the topic of Lyudmila (mainly the main recipe) and realized that I don’t need to run according to different recipes, but stop at one tea and one technique and ask questions in the main topic.
While in my head "porridge", although the synopsis before my eyes in my notebook. Probably looking at a book, I see ............

[Lidochka]

Lidochka, right. It is better to dwell on one tea topic so as not to get confused. The girls will always answer.

[It is imperative to wither!]

went to the topic of Luda, I read from her, it seems that I need to wither

It is imperative to wither! Here in my quote at the bottom of the recipe everything is described - "left to wither on the sheet." Everything is in the recipe, read it carefully again. When done 1-2 times, all the "porridge" will decompose on the shelves.

Lina, your recipe says 6-8 hours, I kept it on the sheet for 8 hours and, as a beginner in this business, it is still difficult for me to determine the end of this stage
I try not only to read, but also to take notes in order to better understand

When done 1-2 times, all the "porridge" will decompose on the shelves.

I hope for this and for the help of the "hall"
Thank you

[space]

for me, as a beginner in this business, it is still difficult to determine the end of this stage

space, Lida, this moment is just very simple.Here is a quote from a garden tea recipe:

End of the withering process we determine by folding the leaf in half. If in most of the leaves we feel the "crunch" of the central vein, then withering should be continued. If most of the leaves do not have "crunch", then proceed to the next stage. The end of withering is determined in another way - when a handful of withered leaves are strongly squeezed, the lump should not open.

So, either fold the leaves or squeeze a handful of leaves into a ball. They will indicate the end of the withering process.

your recipe says 6-8 hours, I kept it on the sheet for 8 hours

Lida, the withering time depends on different moments - the type of plant, the weather (dry / wet), the month when the leaves were collected (young / mature / autumn), the tissue in which we wither (thick / thin) ... So the withering time can be different - from several hours to several days. Focus on the signs described above.

Girls, I want to ask you: can I use this method for Ivan's tea? I have never done anything like this, but I really want to. Next weekend I want to pick up the leaves and try. Of course it's scary if it works. So I will now ask questions and I really hope that some kind soul will help with advice and support.

So, either fold the leaves or squeeze a handful of leaves into a ball. They will show the end of the withering process.

Lyudochka, I checked it in two ways, now I understand that it was necessary to hang up longer
what can I say, learn from mistakes
But this moment will not stop me, tomorrow I will go, if there is no rain, for a new portion of leaves
I'm going to your country tea, another question arose

Added Sunday 05 Jun 2016 09:28 PM

I really hope that some kind soul will help with advice and support.

exceptionally kind souls gathered here

exceptionally kind souls gathered here

And I have no doubts!

[ninza]

Girls, I want to ask you: can I use this method for Ivan's tea?

ninza, Nina, I think you can. This method maximally "pulls" out of the leaves all the tastiest and most aromatic, which is not always possible to do with ordinary fermentation, especially if we have not prepared the leaves for fermentation very well, for example, when manually processing the leaves.

scary, will it work

Ninado not be afraid, we are with you.

So I will now ask questions and I really hope that some kind soul will help with advice and support.

Ask, Ninochka, we will answer, support, help.

I'm going to your country tea, another question arose

Lida, I realized, and I went to the Village ...

and thank God!!!!
Lena, it looks like you and I are on the same "rake"
I also re-read the recipe several times and could not understand: take it out of the bag or not? at first I wanted my package to "lie in the kitchen" like Zachari's
then I went to the topic of Luda, I read from her, it seems I need to wither
I thought, thought and decided that both authors would be "satisfied" with the students, spread the leaves on a sheet, lay there for about 8 hours, and then in the evening put it in a bag and closed it for the night.

Lydia, you and I are newcomers, that's why we stepped on the "rake". You cannot be said about you, because they wilted correctly, I definitely came. I make the first batch strictly according to Lyudmila's recipe. The process of withering was indicated there, so I found the sheets and forward The weather is not so hot now, damp, it rains often and it gets cold again. Therefore, focusing on the process of drying rose petals in the usual way on paper .. (not to the dryer yet, but in the microwave, convection only from 100 degrees), I immediately realized that it was necessary to dry the leaves in the tissues. Rose petals with constant humidity turned out this year not so pink, but with a brown tint. Therefore, only the fabric at the moment is for drying the leaves.
And after reading Zachariah's recipe before adding it, as a beginner, I thought that this is a completely new way of making tea with withering in bags. Therefore, I decided to try two recipes at once, while the time is longer and for further tea preparation, so to speak, in the worked out mode. After all, soon, very soon, the berry and vegetable preparations will begin ... just be in time. Moreover, this year, my neighbor's grandmother requires systematic supervision and she gave me part of her garden for early vegetables (until the apiary returns from the village). It is necessary to survive somehow in our "chic" time ...
Now these leaves are defrosting, I saw in the hole in the bag that they are dark in color and I really liked the smell. I am now sure that even without proper withering, the tea will still work out and will be tastier than what is sold in stores. Of course, I am writing about the tea in the store, which is available to us at the price now.

Girls, many thanks to all of you from beginners ... who really want to learn how to make delicious, aromatic and healthy tea.

Now these leaves are defrosting, I saw in the hole in the bag that they are dark in color and I really liked the smell. I am now sure that even without proper withering, the tea will still work out and will be tastier than what is sold in stores.

Definitely! And don't worry, even without withering everything will be fine, just withering gives a more pronounced taste and aroma. The next game, made with mistakes taken into account, will definitely be better. But this one will please too. We are still learning here too, trying, experimenting, making mistakes, sharing mistakes and best practices. You just need to read carefully, everything is important here, there are many different nuances.

even without withering, everything will be fine, just withering gives a more pronounced taste and aroma. ... You just need to read carefully, everything is important here, there are many different nuances.

I also tried to make a mix of leaves. I read it from Zakhariya (), (that without withering) I did it, I think I didn’t strictly follow the instructions (You just need to read it carefully), BUT! the smell is brighter every day, but I have not yet understood the taste (now I understand - it is necessary to try it in 2 months). Lyudochka- lappl! Thanks for the clarifications!

so when I last read about withering there was no, only "lay in the bags for a day, then in the freezer" I will hope for the best thanks to everyone for the advice

Natalie, half an hour since I put the first twisted bag on fermentation. The second is defrosting for now, waiting for its turn. Despite the fact that it "wilted" in bags like you, the smell and color of the granules made us very happy with my husband! I can't even imagine ... what aroma and taste the cooked will have in full. I like it very much! The scent of cherries interrupts even the scent of rose petals, the next batch of which is now drying up.
And how will we do it next time using full technology, with open leaf withering or in fabric ... it will be just a bomb !!!

Lyudmila, Zakhary, thank you very much for such a fragrant deliciousness !!! Granulated tea will definitely become a member of our family!

[Elena]

Elena, I completely agree! in a tied bag an hour later the aroma from the apple tree stood like that !!! like candy Duchess! although the leaves did not smell at all, even wrinkled in hand! This is the miracle of reincarnation

[Elena]

Elena, Natasha, girls, you see, everything is already good, but you were worried. Don't worry, keep doing everything according to technology. After your teas, you cannot drink any other tea.

Girls, I did not understand: after withering, put the leaves together with the cloth in a bag and in the freezer, or what?

[Nina]

Nina, I put only dried leaves in the bags, squeezing the air out of the bag.

after withering, put leaves together with a cloth in a bag and in the freezer

I put everything together - leaves, tightly swaddled in cloth. And then I do not open the package when it is warming up.

[Lina]

LinaHow much space is needed in the freezer?

Girls, thanks!

[Alla]

Alla, I have a whole box just reserved for this.But it is often empty, because I do it according to my own, abbreviated, method, which is described at the end of the recipe. And just like that, I don't have tea in the freezer for weeks. And then, when you swaddle tightly, then the place is not required much.

Zakhary, Lyudmila, Lina, girls, thank you very much for the recipe, advice, support! Two types of tea, mono and a blend were first made yesterday! When preparing, I received not only tea, but also a lot of positive!

[Borkovna]

Borkovna, Helen, congratulations on the seagull and on positive emotions!

[Elena]

Elena, you see, we said that everything will be fine. Enjoy and repeat!

[Borkovna]

Borkovna, Lenochka, congratulations on your successful tea debut! Well done! Keep it up!

Girls, I have another question: in which meat grinder is it better to twist (manual or electric)? Will the meat grinder deteriorate, can it be colored or a specific smell will appear? Do not be offended by me for the many questions that can make you laugh. I just want to make tea for the first time and get ready for my Sunday hike.

Oh, I have a catch-up question! Spinning on a meat grinder without a knife?

in which meat grinder is better to twist (manual or electric)?

I do everything in an old electric meat grinder.

Will the meat grinder go bad

If you push it a little, it will not deteriorate. Here is my plastic sleeve and nothing, I made all the teas on it and haven't replaced it yet (although I have spare ones). I didn't notice any special smell or color on her.

Spinning on a meat grinder without a knife?

Of course, with a knife. First through the large holes, then through the smaller ones. The second time I put it straight with a spoon, one spoon at a time in the mouth.

The second time I put it straight with a spoon, one spoon at a time in the mouth.

Linochka, do you have to twist it 2 times? Contract? So it will be necessary to twist with a manual meat grinder. Another is still new, sorry.

[ninza]

ninza, Ninawhy be sorry? For example, having suffered with manual labor, I bought an e-mail especially for tea. meat grinder. Nothing is painted, don't worry. It's easier to twist on electric.

Girls, how many times to twist?

[Nina]

Nina, you can twist it once, but after the second scroll, the granules are stronger and take up less volume. And they look more beautiful. In the last season, I began to twist everything twice.

Girls, thanks again to all of you! Although a beginner, after the first two varieties of tea that turned out, now I really feel at home in our tea community.
Nina, yesterday I tried to twist on a simple meat grinder. I played half of the first package, then my husband enters the kitchen. He looked at me, put the harvester on the table, installed a meat grinder on it and ... the scrolling went with the songs. I tell him - What if the harvester deteriorates? In response, I heard - Give me 15 minutes to rest after the first twist and everything will be fine. You need to take care of your hands, not the harvester.
The granules are really good, though we twisted twice through small holes. There were no large harvesters in the kit.
I just returned from the "hunt" for leaves. Nearby there is a ravine with wild plants. But on the way I came across a blooming linden ... so I returned with its flowers, not leaves. Tomorrow I will definitely go again ... this is definitely tea-farmer mania ... after hostomania, rosomania, maple mania, conifer mania, simply drying herbs and flowers for tea. But how interesting it is to live when something fascinates you so much!

[Nina]

Nina, I've been scrolling everything twice in a row since last year. By the way, this is also written in my quote at the end of the recipe. Inattentive

I turn the leaves on a Zelmer electric meat grinder, first on a large wire rack, and then on a fine one. I do not have an average lattice. The granules are very dense.

[Borkovna]

Borkovna, Lena, well done husband! Mine, after I began to ask him to twist the leaves in a manual meat grinder, quickly bought me an electric one.

this is definitely tea-fermented mania ...after hostomania, rosomania, maple mania, conifer mania, simply drying herbs and flowers for tea. But how interesting it is to live when something fascinates you so much!

Well, every word is about all of us.

Inattentive

Aha, old age is not a joy! I reread it again and did not find it twice.