You will need about 2 to 3 square feet (1 square meter) of space once the sinensis begins to grow. Assamica is another type of tea plant. It’s not recommended to grow this type of tea plant unless you live in a tropical climate. Also, this is a “large tree” plant, so it requires at least 5 feet (1. 5 m) once it begins to grow. You can make the same type of tea from this plant as you would from the sinensis.
It is best to begin nurturing it indoors during the spring or fall so that you can move it outside during the spring or fall, which is the best time to plant tea.
The number of containers you use depends on how many seeds you have. You can purchase coarse vermiculite at a nursery.
It is a best to use a spray bottle to avoid overwatering the plants.
You can purchase acidic soil from your local nursery. Test your own to see if it’s acidic, or make it more acidic if it’s not. To test the soil, you can use a strip test. There will be a color-coded key to tell you how acidic the soil is. If the soil isn’t acidic, you can make it more acidic by adding elements such as sulfur and pine needles.
If you live in a subtropical or tropical climate, the tea can be planted at any time.
The soil should be slightly acidic. If planting outdoors, add sand to the soil to ensure it drains well. If planting indoors, add sphagnum moss to the pot. Plant the tea plant in a partly sunny and partly shady location. This means that the tea plant should get about 6 hours of sunlight daily.
If you see that the plant isn’t thriving, you can “feed” the plant ericaceous food, which is a type of fertilizer that is high in acidity. Spread about 1 inch (2. 5 cm) of the fertilizer around the plant.
If the plant is outdoors, carefully dig it up, and put it in a pot filled with soil.
Prune the plant back to 3 feet (1 meter) when you see it start to grow above that height.
Leaves kept dry in an airtight container can last for several years. Preferably, use the tea within a year. Using a rice cooker will leave the green tea with an earthier taste. To make green tea in a rice cooker, first put water-absorbent paper into the cooker. Then, turn the setting to a heat-preserving mode. Add a shallow layer of leaves. Do not cover the cooker all of the way. Leave the leaves for 3 to 4 hours.
Alternatively, dry the leaves by baking them for 20 minutes in an oven preheated to 250 °F (121 °C).
Make sure that the container is completely sealed. Your leaves can last for years if they are kept dry.
You can also infuse your tea with herbs, such as lavender, for a floral taste. Use a very small amount in comparison to the amount of tea leaves you use for tea, unless you want a very strong herbal taste.
