As it gets cooler, autumn tea shoots have been growing under the early autumn climate. The plucking of autumn tea shoots has already begun since the middle of September.

Autumn tea shoots growing on a mountainside in Shizuoka tea estate.

In tea plantations, we can observe the progression of plucking.

We can distinguish before and after plucking by color of tea canopies. Yellowish green color implies before plucking.

Tea leaves remained on tea canopy act as sink to storage nutrients, and then they will act as source of the nutrients transported to the first flush in spring time.

The appearance of tea canopy. Tea leaves remained on tea canopy has large leaf area, which is good for the growth of 1st flush in the next year.

Successful management results in bigger and thicker leaves on tea canopy as shown in the picture.

Such tea plantation managed well will provide the finest quality of 1st flush tea shoots in the next year.