The quest for practical alternatives to firewood in tea factories continues to be a challenge. These factories are being urged to adopt methods that lessen wood consumption and replant trees in regions where they have previously sourced wood.
This initiative is becoming increasingly important as the rising cost of firewood raises concerns for some factories.Stacks of wood are arranged in front of the “boiler” machine, which produces heat. Workers efficiently feed these logs into the boiler, ensuring a continuous flow of heat.
They keep a close eye on the machine’s “bar pressure” gauge, aiming to maintain a temperature of 150 degrees Celsius, which is essential for heating water inside the boiler. The steam generated is then used to process tea leaves delivered to the factory.
The steam works to dry the leaves, which are subsequently ground and prepared for your enjoyment with sugar at home.High Wood Demand in Tea FactoriesThe boiler in tea factories operates round the clock while the factory is open, relying exclusively on firewood primarily eucalyptus wood, renowned for its energy efficiency.
Other types of wood do not provide the same heat output, and the smoke produced can affect the tea’s natural flavor, which is highly prized in Rwandan tea.Azarias Niyibizi, an employee in charge of tea processing at Shagasha Tea Factory, shares, “The steam we produce is important for withering the tea.
Freshly picked tea leaves have a moisture content of 100%. The steam helps reduce this moisture to approximately 66%, which readies the leaves for additional processing.”Shagasha Tea Factory consumes about 7,000 cubic meters of firewood each year and has been in operation for 57 consecutive years. Over this time, it has burned close to 400,000 cubic meters of firewood, although overall wood consumption has decreased due to advancements in the machinery used for tea processing.
iriba.news@gmail.com
