What kind of tea is large-leaf tea? Tea categories explained clearly in one go

Large-leaf tea is the raw material for making Pu'er tea. In recent years, as the Pu'er tea market has heated up, tea farmers have become more enthusiastic about growing tea. So, what are the cultivation methods for large-leaf tea? 

1. What kind of tea is large-leaf tea?

Large-leaf tea belongs to Camellia. It is a tea variety unique to Yunnan, native to Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and other places in Yunnan. Large-leaf tea and its closely related species all have relatively large and beautiful petals, numerous stamens and an attractive plant shape. In some places, large-leaf tea is cultivated as a landscape tree.

2. What are the cultivation methods for large-leaf tea?

1. Selection of the plantation site

The plantation site should be selected in a plot with convenient transportation, good water conservancy conditions, no large factories or pollution sources nearby, a superior ecological environment, little western sun exposure, a soil pH between 4.5-6, deep soil layers, fertile soil, and a slope of 25° or less.

2. Reclamation quality

The depth and width of the planting trench should preferably be 60×80 cm. Base fertilizer is applied into the trench when backfilling soil into it. Apply 2000 kg of organic fertilizer and 100 kg of oil cake per mu. Be careful to mix the fertilizer evenly with the soil, and then cover the fertilizer layer with 20 cm of red (yellow) soil subsoil. A well-reclaimed tea garden requires a deep plowed layer, sufficient base fertilizer, and a terrace surface that is lower on the inside and higher on the outside to facilitate drainage. By making use of the fertilizer-seeking nature of tea plant roots, the roots are induced to develop into deeper soil, enhancing the tea plant's drought resistance.

3. Planting time and planting method

(1) Planting time

For large-scale planting of cuttings, the rainy season from June to July is most suitable. Cuttings planted in the early rainy season have a high survival rate and a long growth period, and can save manpower and material resources. However, the specific planting time should also be determined by whether the cuttings have reached the transplanting standard. In places with irrigation conditions, bag-grown cuttings can be planted before the rainy season.

(2) Planting method

This should be determined according to the plant shape of the variety and the width of the terrace surface. For varieties with an open plant shape and terraces below 1.8 m, the single-plant single-row method is used for planting, with a plant spacing of about 30 cm and 1200-1400 plants per mu. For varieties with an upright plant shape and terraces exceeding 1.8 m, the single-plant double-row method is used for planting, with a plant spacing of about 30 cm, a small row spacing of 30 cm, and 2000-2400 plants per mu. Practice has proved that clonal tea varieties have strong individual growth, and tea gardens established in the above manner can meet the requirements of high quality, high yield and stable yield.

4. Planting method

Cuttings are propagated from branches taken from the mother tree. During planting, measures suited to their root system must be taken to achieve a high survival rate and rapid growth.

When transplanting field-grown seedlings, take up the seedlings with more soil and try to avoid damaging the root system. When planting the seedlings, first make a mound of soil in the planting trench, place the fibrous roots on the mound so that the fibrous roots spread out, then cover the roots with fine loose soil and press firmly, cover with plastic film, and cover with a shade net (or insert branches for shade) for protection. When planting two-year-old field-grown seedlings, press the soil firmly layer by layer with your hands while filling it in, cover with plastic film, and cover with a shade net. When planting bag-grown seedlings, tear off the plastic bag and place the seedling with its soil into the planting hole. Fill the hole with fine loose soil and press appropriately, then lay the torn plastic bag flat beside the tea seedling, which has a certain effect on preventing soil compaction and increasing soil temperature. Bag-grown seedlings also need shade protection when planted.

Large-leaf tea has the characteristics of strong growth vigor, an early sprouting period, a long picking period, plump buds and leaves, rich contents, and relatively high tea polyphenol content. It is not difficult to grow and has promising market prospects. Tea farmers who want to grow it should act quickly.