PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a novel fermented tea leaf production method capable of producing homogeneous fermented tea leaves efficiently on an industrial scale.SOLUTION: A method of producing fermented tea leaves at least comprises: a hot wind treatment process in which fresh tea leaves are treated with hot wind so that the tea leaves are adjusted to have a temperature of 15-40°C and a moisture content of 200-360% on a dry basis and a coarse kneading process in which the tea leaves after the hot wind treatment process are kneaded while hit and pressed at a temperature kept suitable for fermentation of the tea leaves.SELECTED DRAWING: NoneCOPYRIGHT: (C)2017,JPO&INPIT【課題】均質な発酵茶葉を工業的規模で効率よく製造できる新規な発酵茶葉の製造方法を提供する。【解決手段】茶の生葉を熱風で処理して、茶葉の温度を15~40℃、茶葉の乾量基準含水率を200~360%に調整する熱風処理工程と、前記熱風処理工程後の茶葉を、茶葉の発酵に適する温度を維持しながら、打圧を加えて揉む粗揉工程とを少なくとも含む発酵茶葉の製造方法。【選択図】 なし
