EXTRACTION OF OOLONG TEA

PURPOSE:To obtain an extracted solution of oolong tea having good body and excellent fragrance by repeating immersion and extraction operation of an extracting basket packed with a material for extraction of oolong tea and recovering the residual extracted solution remaining in the extracting basket. CONSTITUTION:An extracting basket packed with a given amount of a material for extraction of oolong tea such as leaves and stems of oolong tea is immersed in a weakly alkaline warm solution comprising sodium hydrogencarbonate, etc. adjusted to 76-94 deg.C, allowed to stand for a proper time, pulled up and dehydrated. Further, the immersion and extraction operation is repeatedly carried out to give a main extracted solution. On the other hand, when the extracted solution is dehydrated in the immersion and extraction operation, the extracting basket is cleaned by spraying water on the basket in a showering state and the residual extracted solution remaining in the basket is recovered in the main extracted solution so that an extracted solution of oolong tea having harmonized bitterness and astringency while having a proper one of color is obtained.