PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING A LEAF TEA PRODUCT

1 . A process for manufacturing a black leaf tea product, the process comprising:

subjecting a black leaf tea material, having a moisture content of less than 20 wt. %, to a heat treatment step passing it through a heated tube and contacting it with a heated surface inside the tube at a temperature of 60° C. to 100° C. in the presence of steam for a duration of at least 2 minutes to provide a black leaf tea product.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the duration of the heat treatment step is from 3 to 25 minutes.

3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the steam is provided at a flow rate of at least 1 kg per hour.

4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the steam is provided at a flow rate of less than 25 kg per hour.

5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the heated surface is at a temperature of 65° C. to 95° C.

6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the black leaf tea material has a moisture content of less than 10 wt. %.

7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the black leaf tea material is a tea blend.

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the black leaf tea product has a moisture content of less than 20 wt. %.

9 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the black leaf tea product has a moisture content of less than 10 wt. %.

10 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the heat treatment step is carried out in a confined atmosphere.

11 . The process of claim 1 , wherein:

the black leaf tea material has an infusion L* value of L* initial ,

the black leaf tea product has an infusion L* value of L* final , and

the difference in infusion L* value is ΔL*, and ΔL*=(L* initial )−(L* final ),

wherein infusion the infusion L* value is determined for an infusion liquor obtained by contacting 2 g of the black leaf tea material (for L* initial ) or the black leaf tea product (for L* final ) with 200 ml freshly boiled water for 2 minutes;

the black leaf tea material has a Normalised Infusion Colour of NIC initial ,

the black leaf tea product has a Normalised Infusion Colour of NIC final , and

the difference in Normalised Infusion Colour is ΔNIC, and ΔNIC=(NIC final )−(NIC initial ),

wherein Normalised Infusion Colour is expressed in terms of a* values per mg/ml of infusion solids as determined for an infusion liquor obtained by contacting 2 g of the black leaf tea material (for NIC initial ) or the black leaf tea product (for NIC final ) with 200 ml freshly boiled water for 2 minutes; and wherein

ΔNIC is −0.1 to −2.0 and ΔL* is −1.0 to −8.0.

12 . The process of claim 1 , wherein:

the black leaf tea material has an infusion L* value of L*Initial,

the black leaf tea product has an infusion L* value of L* final , and

the difference in infusion L* value is ΔL*, and ΔL*=(L* initial )— * final ),

wherein infusion the infusion L* value is determined for an infusion liquor obtained by contacting 2 g of the black leaf tea material (for L* initial ) or the black leaf tea product (for L* final ) with 200 ml freshly boiled water for 2 minutes;

the black leaf tea material has a Normalised Infusion Colour of NIC initial ,

the black leaf tea product has a Normalised Infusion Colour of NIC final , and

the difference in Normalised Infusion Colour is ΔNIC, and ΔNIC=(NIC final )−(NIC initial ),

wherein Normalised Infusion Colour is expressed in terms of a* values per mg/ml of infusion solids as determined for an infusion liquor obtained by contacting 2 g of the black leaf tea material (for NIC initial ) or the black leaf tea product (for NIC final ) with 200 ml freshly boiled water for 2 minutes; and wherein

ΔNIC is −0.1 to −2.0 and ΔL* is 1.5 to 11.

13 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the black leaf tea product is blended with one or more additional black leaf teas.

14 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the process further comprises packaging the black leaf tea product.