Rolling (tea)
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German: Rollen (Tee) Also known as: Teerollen, Rollung
A processing step in which withered tea leaves are twisted and pressed to break the cells and give the leaf its shape.
After withering, the soft leaves are twisted, kneaded and pressed by hand or with rolling machines. This breaks cell walls, and cell sap emerges and spreads over the leaf surface. In black tea this starts oxidation; in green tea rolling only takes place after fixing.
Rolling also determines the leaf shape: twisted leaves, needles as in sencha or small pellets as in gunpowder. Leaves that are more strongly broken release their compounds more quickly in the cup.
Related terms
Fixing (kill-green)GunpowderOrthodox manufactureOxidation (tea)Withering
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