Craftsmanship in Oxidation
How Tea Differs from Wine, Coffee, and Cacao
Among the countless beverages cherished by people around the world, tea, coffee, cacao, and red wine stand out as some of the most beloved. Despite their differences, they share a unique trait: each derives its distinctive flavors through a combination of plant biology and human craftsmanship.
However, unlike coffee, cacao, and wine — all of which begin with fruit and rely on fermentation processes driven by microorganisms — tea takes an entirely different path. Tea relies solely on its leaves and the skilled hands of artisans to develop flavor. This gives rise to a completely distinct production philosophy and craft.
From a technical perspective, once the tender tea buds are plucked from the tea tree, the first task of the tea maker is to gradually remove moisture from the fresh leaves.
Take oolong tea, for example. During its transformation, the moisture content of the leaves is reduced from around 70–80% down to less than 5%. If the physical and chemical withering stages are well controlled, moisture is gently dissipated, the cellular structure stabilizes and shrinks, and internal compounds like polyphenols, polyphenol oxidase, and oxygen can interact more effectively — giving birth to vibrant liquor, elegant textures, and layered aromas of flowers and fruit.
Tea artisans use various techniques to control this process of moisture release, shaping the final fragrance and flavor. These methods are what differentiate the many styles of tea — such as Pouchong, Oolong, and Oriental Beauty.
If the withering (known as zuo qing or lang qing in Chinese) is poorly handled — or if the internal water pathways in the leaf are blocked or disrupted — moisture cannot effectively move through the veins and evaporate through the stomata. This is like a traffic jam inside the leaf: oxidation becomes incomplete, leading to unpleasant notes of astringency, dullness, or imbalance.
Seen from another angle, tasting tea is also a way to appreciate the tea maker’s mastery — a sensory journey through their technique, intention, and expression of nature's raw beauty.