How many times is Tencha dried, and what methods are used?

How many times does Tencha need to be dried? Tencha typically undergoes two drying stages during its production process.

What methods are used? The drying process involves two stages, carried out using dryers or ovens:

• First Drying (Aracha drying): Rapid drying at high temperatures (approximately 100-120°C) for 10-20 minutes. This removes the majority of moisture, reducing the tea leaf moisture content to 10-15%.
• Second Drying (Shiage drying): Slow drying at lower temperatures (approximately 60-80°C) for 30-60 minutes. This further reduces moisture content to 3-5% and develops the tea's aroma and flavor. In modern tea production, these steps are predominantly performed using mechanical dryers to ensure uniformity and efficiency.