Artisanal vs. Commercial Tea Production: Processes and Differences

Thousands of tonnes of tea are consumed across Australia annually, with specialty tea now surging in popularity. Whether that’s herbal, fruity, or even the more traditional black tea, Australians are showing an appreciation for the flavoursome freshness of a specialty blend.

There’s a reason artisanal tea production is booming – and that’s the time and care that goes into every single cup.

The differences between artisanal teas and commercial varieties are noticeable – especially to tea aficionados who savour their favourite drinks. But what makes these differences so apparent? Well, it all comes down to the journey between seed to cup.

The Importance of Quality Ingredients in Artisanal Tea Production

Just like other foods and drinks, the origin of ingredients has a huge impact on how your morning (or afternoon) beverage tastes. Commercial production maximises efficiency and standardisation, harvesting to a deadline. Artisanal tea harvesters are more likely to go with the flow, assess the leaves and harvest when the time is right for that plant.

Commercial varieties are grown in large-scale plantations, with rigorous micro-management to harvest the maximum yield: depending on the producer, this might include the use of fertilisers, pesticides, high-density spacing, cloning, and precision-engineered processes to ensure a consistent product made efficiently that is cost-effective. Additionally, commercial settings are more likely to prioritise preserving for a long shelf life, rather than aiming for the freshness and vibrancy of Artisanal teas.

Far from the acres of homogenised, tech-controlled plantations, artisanal teas tend to be grown traditionally – within a biodiverse environment, encouraging the growth of a natural ecosystem and relying on knowledge and practical experience. These teas are usually made on a smaller scale, meaning that there’s more room for diversity of flavours depending on the season. By relying on natural cycles, traditional tea producers leverage the power of natural insecticides, preferring to utilise companion plants to deter insects while maintaining the health of the tea plants through manual weeding and maintenance.

While commercial tea production focuses on maintaining the same flavour across all large batches of tea produced, artisanal producers have more flexibility to get creative with their blends. As tea is produced in much smaller batches, it’s expected that there may be some slight variations between batches, due to the more traditional and natural approach during the growth cycle.

Variations In Production Methods: Commercial Vs. Artisanal Tea Production

Commercial operations in most industries are associated with large-scale enterprise that aims to consistently produce the same product time after time. Similarly, the artisanal approach evokes images of working more manually – perhaps even intuitively – to create a product that may never produce the exact same results twice.

Commercial tea producers rely on a data-driven approach, often operating with heavy machinery to ensure consistency and quality, batch after batch. Harvests are planned with a deadline in mind, or when the data determines that the time is right. Artisanal producers, however, have a more personal connection to their plants and wait for natural signs for peak harvest time. The difference is that artisans are more selective about which leaves will make it into their blend, while commercial producers are more indiscriminate.

Artisanal methods for harvesting often involve hand-picking or using less technology so that they can use their best judgement while assessing more frequently during the harvest ensuring that their exacting high standards are met at every stage. Commercial techniques are almost fully automated, resulting in a lower frequency of human interaction with each plant.

After the harvest, differences continue with commercial producers more likely to use standardised procedures to oxidise and dry leaves into the end tea product. Artisans, again, rely on their expertise and deep knowledge of tea production to make more use of natural techniques (such as drying naturally in the sun).

Finally, packaging. Commercial products are mass-produced, and mass packaged. These could be going across the country - or across the world – in vast quantities, therefore the preservation must be exact to maintain a good quality end product. On the other hand, artisans and their small-scale operations are often direct to consumers, so they are packaged in smaller quantities and often with fewer preservatives to emphasise the fresh taste of well-crafted tea.

Taste Matters When it Comes to Tea

From the very beginning of tea production, commercial teas are standardised to create the same tea today as was made yesterday and will be made tomorrow. Some consumers prefer this model because they can be certain that their favourite brand will be reliable and recognisable every time they make a brew. Artisanal tea drinkers are perhaps more open to the slight variations in taste that result from a more traditional and natural approach to production.

Specialty blends are more creative, with seasonal and regional variations that may be a direct result of particular flora and fauna thriving in the same area as the tea plants. These variations can create a more intense, deep flavour profile worlds apart from the standardised, one-dimensional flavours of commercial output. It may even be that your specialty tea comes with specific brewing instructions to ensure you get the full experience of the flavour profile.

Preference, however, is a matter of taste. If you enjoy knowing that your favourite tea will be there come rain or shine, then commercial tea will give you what you need. That’s what it does – through standardisation and precision-engineered techniques, the flavours of tea produced largely remain constant.

However, if you want to experience a personal journey – and discover the magnitude of difference that traditional methods bring to your morning brew – then you may want to begin experimenting with some of Australia’s top artisanal blends.

Tea is Our Way of Life

There’s so much more to tea than the flavour – many specialty teas a packed full of micro-nutrients that complement your health and support your wellbeing. Consider the antioxidants and amino acids found in oolong tea, or the anti-bloating properties associated with peppermint tea. Traditional, natural production serves to help maximise these beneficial properties by allowing the leaves to grow in their own time, rather than by enforcing quick growth for faster turnover.

At Teavision, you’ll discover a world of artisanal teas full of supportive ingredients and incredible tastes to help get your day started with a delicious bang. Check out our full range today.

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