The Fun of Planting Tea

The most obvious difference between Port Tea and normal teas is the way of its reproduction. In order to keep the flavor of all tea plants the same, tea farmers use asexual reproduction to propagate the plants. However, the Port Tea is cultivated by tea seeds produced by pistil and stamen. There are a series of processes from choosing the seeds to the sprouting of tea plants, hereinafter we introduce the processes to you:

Different Ways for Cultivating

The cultivating method of Port Tea is also why it is named “the crossbreed tea”. Currently, almost all tea gardens in Taiwan use the cutting seedling (asexual reproduction) to maintain the purity of its tea species. Cutting seedling needs the branch cut from a bigger tea plant. After the farmers plant the branch in earth, another tea plant grows. The advantage of such a method is that the genes come from the same tea plant, so people can make sure all tea plants are of the same kind.

The Port Tea is not cultivated through cutting seedling, though. Instead, it is reproduced by seeding (sexual reproduction). This method needs the fertilized tea seeds to grow a plant. Since it’s a sexual reproduction, the alteration of generations occurs. The disadvantage of such method is that the tea species are thus changed. However, though with different genes combinations, the flavor of tea was cultivated into very similar ones as the tea plants try to adapt to the harsh environment of Manjhou. It is like the situation in the military camp. Though people come from different family backgrounds, after the military training, everyone become a perfect soldier. This difference is also why Port Tea is so cherished.

Life of Tea Seed

There are often 3 to 4 tea seeds inside of the fruit.
Look how pilled tea seed are well-rounded!
Tea seeds must now set in the water, the ones floating on the surface of the water is not suitable for plantation.
These are the ones can't be planted.
Picked tea seeds then place in the wet cloth for two days, and wait for them to sprout.
Ready to dig!
Place the sprouted seeds in the containers.
YA~~our tea trees has sprouted.

The tea seed are abundantly produced at the end of winter, when it’s also the leisure time of all farming seasons. The tea farmers usually cultivate new plants during this season. The cultivating starts from choosing the tea seeds. Not all tea seeds could be used for cultivation. Only those which are full and complete could pass the first stage of selection.

The chosen tea seeds would be laid under sunlight for two days until their shells break. We then rip the shells and take out the brown little balls—tea seeds. The seeds are then soaked in water for two full days for the second stage of selection. If a tea seed sinks to the bottom, it is healthy and suitable for cultivation.

However, if a seed floats on the surface of water, it should be put away. Double-check with one’s teeth, and one would find nothing inside the shell. The selected seeds will be wrapped in wet towels. The moisture of towels must be maintained until the seeds begin to sprout, the process usually takes about one week. The sprouted seeds will then be transplanted in pots as when we plant green beans. We dig a hole for about one phalanges deep in the dirt, and put in the sprouted seeds. After covering it with the dirt, all we need to do is to water it and wait for it to grow into a seedling.