On Sep 11, 12:20 pm, Nigel > wrote:
> On Sep 11, 10:35 am, Jazzy > wrote:
>
> > i read bout this too. they mention about black tea needing more $$$ to
> > produce compared to white and green tea
>
> Depends on how you do it, what type of tea, which equipment you
> select, and what your labor costs. Japanese green is a higher
> investment cost than Sri Lankan black. Malawi white tea is higher
> investment cost than China white. Within a country the machinery
> investment for black tea and green tea is just about the same. I
> think the point in the article is derived from Richard Sakuma's own
> "home spun" manufacture of tiny amounts. He ignores his labor cost
> and then can make white tea in the sun free of cost, green tea in his
> kitchen microwave oven effectively free of cost, but would need to
> invest in equipment for making black tea.
>
> Nigel at Teacraft

I am finding all this incredibly interesting, although much more from
a hobby-growing perspective than out of commercial possibility. Nigel
(or anyone else) - do you know what kind of winter temperatures tea
can tolerate?

Alex

Alex > writes:

> On Sep 11, 12:20 pm, Nigel > wrote:
> > On Sep 11, 10:35 am, Jazzy > wrote:
> >
> > > i read bout this too. they mention about black tea needing more $$$ to
> > > produce compared to white and green tea
> >
> > Depends on how you do it, what type of tea, which equipment you
> > select, and what your labor costs. Japanese green is a higher
> > investment cost than Sri Lankan black. Malawi white tea is higher
> > investment cost than China white. Within a country the machinery
> > investment for black tea and green tea is just about the same. I
> > think the point in the article is derived from Richard Sakuma's own
> > "home spun" manufacture of tiny amounts. He ignores his labor cost
> > and then can make white tea in the sun free of cost, green tea in his
> > kitchen microwave oven effectively free of cost, but would need to
> > invest in equipment for making black tea.
> >
> > Nigel at Teacraft
>
> I am finding all this incredibly interesting, although much more from
> a hobby-growing perspective than out of commercial possibility. Nigel
> (or anyone else) - do you know what kind of winter temperatures tea
> can tolerate?

I'd be surprised if anyone's done it in Vermont, but you're not just
anyone...

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html

On Sep 11, 10:37 pm, Alex > wrote:

> I am finding all this incredibly interesting, although much more from
> a hobby-growing perspective than out of commercial possibility. Nigel
> (or anyone else) - do you know what kind of winter temperatures tea
> can tolerate?
>
> Alex

All I know is that up in Darjeeling it can get pretty cold in January,
with temperatures down to ~--5°C [20F?]. The bushes seem to be OK with
it, even the old, "original" ones ["China" bushes], some of them more
than 100 years of age.
These days however you´ll find more and more clonal bushes in DJ and
elsewhere. Among other desirable features those clones could also be
selected by their resistance to cold climates or e.g. salty coastal
conditions.

Karsten

On Sep 12, 12:15 am, wrote:
> On Sep 11, 10:37 pm, Alex > wrote:
> > I am finding all this incredibly interesting, although much more from
> > a hobby-growing perspective than out of commercial possibility. Nigel
> > (or anyone else) - do you know what kind of winter temperatures tea
> > can tolerate?
>
> All I know is that up in Darjeeling it can get pretty cold in January,
> with temperatures down to ~--5°C [20F?]. The bushes seem to be OK with
> it, even the old, "original" ones ["China" bushes], some of them more
> than 100 years of age.°

I have grown mature China type tea (ex seed and clonal) with winter
temperatures dipping at night down to -5°C [= 23°F] and even last year
in one place to 18°F, though young plants of some clones were killed
at this level. Really cold (freezing) weather kills plants by freezing
sap under the bark of the mature wood and causing the bark to peel
off. Assamica type plants (ex seed or clonal) are intolerent of any
cold (truly tropical), keeling over below 3-4°C [38°F]. All tea
ceases active growth and becomes dormant below an average night time
temperature of around 50°F moving storage synthate down to the
roots.

A scientist named John Vendeland was actively selecting tea bushes for
cold tolerence on a farm up in Oregon ten years ago and had a hand in
planting bushes these near Seattle. I have not heard from him for a
few years (John, if you are lurking on r.f.d.t please get in touch).

Nigel at Teacraft