On September 3, 2026, several bulk green tea processing plants in core production regions-such as Shaoxing and Shengzhou, Zhejiang-completed the installation and commissioning of next-generation intelligent color-sorting and automated impurity-removal production lines. This new equipment has now officially entered service in the processing workshops. The technical upgrade addresses key pain points in the production of pan-fired green tea for export. By optimizing sorting algorithms for major export grades-including Chunmee, Gongxi, and Gunpowder (types 3505 and 9372)-the system accurately identifies yellow leaves, burnt fragments, red stems, stones, and off-colored impurities, thereby replacing extensive repetitive manual sorting labor. According to plant production managers, Chunmee and Gunpowder teas are traditional bulk green tea exports that have long supplied markets in North Africa, West Africa, and Central Asia; however, overseas buyers are increasingly demanding greater consistency, cleanliness, and sensory stability across batches. Previously, the processing stage relied heavily on manual sorting, which not only incurred rising labor costs but also led to inconsistent purity levels between batches due to human variability. Following the upgrade to intelligent production lines, the workshop's overall sorting and impurity-removal efficiency has increased by over 35%, and sorting precision has improved. Additionally, a data logging system has been established, ensuring traceability for the sorting parameters and rejection records of every tea batch. With these upgrades, the plants can handle larger overseas orders, maintain stable supply quality for Chunmee and Gunpowder teas during peak seasons, and mitigate the risk of overseas rejections caused by excessive impurities or color inconsistencies-thereby further strengthening the competitiveness of Chinese pan-fired green tea in the international mass-market tea sector.
