SPECIALITY AND HERBAL TEAS These are classified according to the raw material used and the type of manufacture adopted. Orthodox processed tea leaves produce "particular" teas like semi-fermented oolongs and reprocessed, scented and compressed teas. Delicately plucked and processed teas make numerous "prominent" teas. The raw material is taken from the plants which are well grown in an excellent habitat with advantageous ecological conditions and are made skillfully and exquisitely with delicate flush buds and leaves of the tea plants belonging to fine varieties. Herbal teas are made by processing veritable teas together with medicinal herbs, which are used to complement the curative properties of the former for many ailments.

WHITE TEAS White teas are whole withered teas of which the buds and leaves are covered with white hairy growth. First infusion of the teas is almost colourless, and the phenolic substances are slightly oxidised and poorly polymerized. These teas are made in two steps of withering and drying.

YELLOW TEAS The yellow teas are termed as Huangcha are fixed - light fermented or fixed - "yellowed" teas. The colour of these dried leaves is greenish yellow and the infusion is bright yellow. The characteristic and key technique in their manufacture is light fermentation or "yellowing".

TEA EXTRACT The utilization of tea extract in various fields has increased worldwide. The extract is used as dye, detergent, deodorant, sterilization agent and medical agent such as anti-dental caries agent and anti-inflammation agent. Green leaves of tea, oolong and black teas are used as raw materials of tea extract powder.

The production system of tea extract powder is almost similar to that of instant tea; extraction with hot water or aqueous ethanol, separation, concentration and spray-drying. Green tea extract powder made by this process contains about 25-30 % of polyphenol and around 20% of catechin.

USE AS DYE Wood, silk or synthetic yarn type fibres are dyed in tea extract solution (1:20) containing 10% of tea extract powder with met-mordant at 60°C for six hours. After washing the dyed yarn with water, the yarn weight increased by 3-5%. By metal-mordants, the colour of yarn changes to pale green, yellow-green, yellow, brown and copper-yellow. It is found that despite repeated washing or exposure to sunlight for the fading test, the colour of yarn is maintained at least for one year.

USE AS A DETERGENT Oolong tea extract has been developed as one of the effective substitutes for (CFC) chlorofluoro carbon used to wash away oil on chips used in display coated liquid crystal. The advantages of oolong tea extract as detergent are (i) it is an organic material and therefore ecofriendly and the waste water is easily disposed of (ii) it is a safe detergent which is non toxic and non-inflammable (iii) the extract forms a high quality detergent for washing oily substances.

Manure produced from a mixture of green tea waste and fowl dropping is sold in the Japanese manure market and is used widely in kitchen gardens for flowers and vegetables.