The effects of blending clonal leaf on black tea quality

Abstract

Although most clones are selected for quality and yields, there are clones in production with superior yields but producing inferior black tea quality and vice versa. Some of these clones with superior yield give very poor black tea quality characteristics. Such clones are normally not progressed in selection programmes. Blending the clonal leaf prior to maceration results in the production of black teas with average quality relative to the amount of the clonal leaf in the mixture. There is no evidence of clonal incompatibility. Slow fermenting clones with superior yields may therefore be selected and planted, provided they are not planted in single stands.