PROCESS OF PRODUCING A GREEN LEAF TEA PRODUCT

1 . A method of preparing green leaf tea product comprising:

a. incubating fresh tea leaf at a temperature in the range 10° C. to 80° C. under anaerobic conditions for a period of 4 to 72 hours to provide an incubated leaf;

b. subjecting the incubated leaf to a step of thermal treatment at a temperature in the range of 70° C. to 150° C. for about 2 to 10 minutes to provide a tea leaf;

c. drying the leaf to a moisture content less than 8% by total mass of the tea leaf to obtain the green leaf tea product,

wherein step (b) is carried out by pan firing or steaming; and

the fresh tea leaf is from Camelia Camellia sinensis.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

there is no step of comminution of tea leaf prior to the thermal treatment.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

there is no extraction of tea leaf prior the thermal treatment.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the drying is carried out either by thermal drying, freeze drying, or vacuum drying.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

subjecting the incubated leaf to shear before the thermal treatment.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:

the incubated leaf is exposed to the shear for about 30 seconds to 15 minutes.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:

the shear is provided at a shear rate in the range of 5000/s to 25000/s.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:

the shear is produced by applying a pressure in the range of 0.1 to 10 bars.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:

the shear is generated using a mechanical device.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the anaerobic conditions are obtained by:

i. placing the fresh tea leaf in a container and closing the container;

ii. placing the fresh tea leaf in a container, purging a gas essentially free of oxygen through the container, and closing the container; or

iii. placing the fresh tea leaf in an airtight chamber or under vacuum.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein:

the anaerobic conditions are achieved by placing the fresh tea leaf in a container and closing the container.