This is our Tea Shack. This building is where the tea magic happens and the beautiful green leaf we harvest is turned into the tea that you know and love.
Most teas in the US are imported. This means they may not be held to US standards for processing and food safety. At The Great Mississippi Tea Company we work hard to ensure all food and safety standards are met. We maintain a clean processing facility that even the tea dogs are not allowed to access.
Depending on the tea it can take 1 - 5 days to make a batch of tea. Each type of tea will have a different processing plan that Timmy and Jason have down to a science. Below are just a few examples of tea making processes.
Withering Tea
Technically, once the tea has been plucked from the fields it begins to wither. This is where the controlled process of tea making begins. The tea leaves will be taken from the fields and placed onto bamboo trays. In order to properly develop the flavors of the tea, it must be processed in the right humidity, temperature and airflow. It is not as simple as just letting the tea leaves dry and hoping for the best. Every stage of the drying process is carefully timed and controlled to ensure the best flavors come out in the tea.
During the Withering process the leaves moisture is greatly reduced. The flavors start to change with the chemical reactions in the leaves and caffeine begins to rise.
After the Withering is complete the next steps in processing can occur which will depend on what type of tea is being made.
The Tea Roller
The Tea Roller helps to shape the tea leaves. It damages the leaf cells to increase the flavor concentration of the tea. Rolling is usually done after the withering stage.
The Tea Tumbler
This equipment is most commonly used in the processing of Oolong teas. Tea will be placed in this bamboo tumbler where the leaves will be bounced around to cause oxidation. The leaves reaction to the tumbling is what causes a chemical reaction in the leaves thus creating a unique flavor. As the leaves break slightly, it exposes them to Oxygen. As the moisture depletes and as the leaves are exposed to air, that is when the Oxidation occurs.
UV Treatment
In order to create a great Oolong tea sun exposure is needed. In other countries this would be done by placing your leaves outside in the sun to dry. This is not a controlled environment for air, moisture or animals. In the US we need to do this with top safety standards in mind. We replicate the sun exposure through a UV light process. The tea sit on shelves where the same process occurs under a light bulb. This allows us to ensure that our tea once harvested is always maintained in a fully controlled environment.
Oolong tea is very rarely made in the US due to these requirements.
Pine Needle Tea Roller
Our extremely popular Pine Needle Tea is made with a very hefty piece of equipment. This machine heats the tea leaves and at the same time shapes them into a roll. This makes them look like thin needles. Pine Needle tea is a pan fired green tea that sells out within a few days each year.
Note: Pine Needle tea is currently sold out for last season but it will be returning again soon. Make sure to join our email list to be the first to know when it is back in stock as this tea sells out within a few days. Join here.
There is so much to being a tea maker than just plucking a few leaves. Quality relies on a great process and great standards. We work hard to maintain our facility so you can enjoy a quality cup of tea grown to American standards.
We also welcome folks to see our facility in person. Tours are available starting at $10 learn more here.
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