The birth of a good cup of tea relies not only on the accumulated experience and careful craftsmanship of tea farmers, but even more so on proper tea garden management before harvest. Without high-quality fresh leaves (tea qing), even the most skilled farmer cannot produce excellent tea—like a chef without rice.

In addition to regularly monitoring the growth of tea trees, farmers also manage pruning, fertilization, and weeding. While these may seem like routine tasks, they are not carried out rigidly by calendar dates. Tea farmers must respond flexibly to yearly climate variations, guided by both forecasting and a bit of luck.

For example, pruning old branches helps redirect nutrients to new shoots, stimulates budding, and breaks the apical dominance of the plant. This process supports balanced growth and allows farmers to better regulate and anticipate the development of the next season’s tea leaves.

Such practices not only boost yield but also improve the quality of the harvested leaves. In dry seasons, pruned tea trees require less water, making them more resilient to drought. However, in cases of extreme water shortage, all one can do is look to the sky and hope for rain.