A CEVLON TEA FACTORY 37 



There are no hard-aiul-fost rulcn as to tlie length of 

 time necessary for the desired degree of fermentation, 

 or, more correctly speaking, oxidation, to be attained ; 

 the weather conditions and the special nature of the 

 leaves under treatment have to bo taken into con- 

 sideration. As "patients" under this treatment the 

 leaves may be normal, or they may prove very stubborn 

 or very docile ; and so erratic an agent is the weather, 

 that on a sunny day the operation may be performed 

 in twenty minutes, whilst in cool, wet weather it may 

 take several hours. It is of the utmost importance 

 that the oxidation shall be thorough, but, on the other 

 hand, if it is over-done or under-done the tea is spoiled. 



The leaves which pass the linest-sieve test, when the 

 roll-breaker first deals with a mass, arc slightly 

 moistened and oxidized without further preliminary 

 treatment. The coarser leaves are again dealt with 

 by roller, roll-breaker and sifters before they, too, are 

 moi^ened and left to oxidize. 



For oxidation purpose the leaves are thinly spread 

 on mats, or on a floor made of some glazed material, 

 or put into a specially designed nest of drawers to 

 which the air has free access. During this stage of 

 manufacture the leaves turn copper-coloured, and make 

 known that their ingredients combine to form aix 

 essence which has a pleasing aroma. The experts who 

 superintend tea-making at this stage judge by colour 

 and aroma when the right degree of oxidation has 

 been reached. 



Firing. — When the leaves are suflii untly o.xidir.cd. 

 they are baked dry, or, technically speaking, '* lired. ' 

 In an up-to-dato factory, such as wo are visiting, the 

 tiring is done iii the very largo oven of a patent furnace. 



