Collection: CTC

The name CTC comes after Crush, Tear, Curl (CTC) – the method of processing this black tea, where tea leaves are passed through a series of cylindrical rollers with hundreds of sharp teeth that crush, tear, and curl the tea into small, hard pellets. CTC tea is hardier than its orthodox counterparts in texture and in sustenance, owing to its meticulous process of manufacturing. It is mostly sold loose in India. CTC tea is the popular choice in tea shops and domestic households for their preferred style of brew. It is normally brewed with milk and sweetened with sugar and emerges with a strong red colored brew. The addition of spices is also encouraged which results in the very intriguing original Indian blend of tea, Masala Chai. The spices used range from cardamom, cinnamon, whole cloves, cumin, and even ginger and nuts to stir up the most exotic mystic cuppa brew. A sip out of a cup of Masala chai creates an explosion of different flavours inside the mouth, thoroughly pampering the taste buds and leaving them confused.

CTC tea producing regions in India

One of the biggest contributors of CTC tea for the entire nation’s needs come from the tea gardens of Assam followed by the Dooars in West Bengal and from selected tea gardens in the slopes of the Nilgiri range in the South of India. A railway station at the foothills of the Dooars in Nagrakata is the lone connection between the isolated foothills and the rest of the world. It is from here that the entire CTC produce of Assam & Dooars tea estates is accumulated and sourced for distribution to different parts of the country as well as the world.

Processing of CTC tea

At our plantations, we make sure that we make only the best quality tea. The tea processing involves the following steps:

Plucking

The making of the tea starts with plucking. As true quality is essential in a good raw material (Tea Leaf), great emphasis is given to plucking, the apical parts of shoots consisting of 2-3 leaves and the terminal buds are nipped off in plucking.

Withering

The first step of processing is “withering” in the factory, in which freshly plucked leaf is conditioned physically, as well as, chemically for subsequent processing stages. This is one of the most important tea processing steps, as the desired quality in tea manufacturing is ensured by maintaining the desired level of withering. Leaves are spread on the troughs at a given thickness and the air is blown upwards from the bottom of the perforated bed.

Fermentation

The next step is fermentation and a great deal of attention is paid to regulate the temperature, humidity, and duration of fermentation to ensure that the flavour of the tea remains intact.

Firing/ Drying

The tea leaves are fired at an optimally regulated temperature, to get the best quality of our tea. We make sure that proper care is taken to not over-cook the leaves as the process of drying the produced tea is responsible for the addition of flavor to the tea.

Grading

Grading is done by sifting through meshes with a lot of care so that the teas are sorted into different shapes and sizes perfectly. CTC teas are generally graded into three broad categories, Leaf, Fanning, and Dust. The leaf grade or bolder CTC are graded in BOPL, BOPSM, and BP. The fanning is commonly graded in BPSM, PF, and OF. The Dust grades are PD and Dust. The price difference between the different grades is not much and BP and OF tend to command the highest prices.

Weighing and Packing

Close inspection is done while the teas are weighed and packed into tea chests or any other packaging as per the requirement.

CTC Tea – Strong, Bold, and Unmistakably Indian

Millions of people across India start their day only after the first drink of strong, aromatic chai. And that is possible only with the help of CTC tea, which stands for "Crush, Tear, Curl." This is a way of processing tea that makes the small, hard pellets you see in your favorite mix. At Octavius, we sell strong, consistent CTC tea that always makes a great cup of tea.

What Makes CTC Tea Special?

Unlike other teas that are very delicate, CTC tea powder is meant for strength. The crush-tear-curl technique is used to extract the best taste and color from the coffee, resulting in a deep red, rich tea that is best enjoyed with milk and sugar. This is why masala chai, cutting chai and every chai stand in India uses CTC tea.

CTC Tea Benefits – More Than Just a Morning Kick

Beyond its strong flavor, CTC tea benefits include a lot of vitamins that are good for your heart, help digestion, and boost your immune system. The strong drink also provides you with a continuous supply of caffeine which is excellent in keeping you alert throughout the day. With ginger and cardamom, as well as cloves it forms a relaxing tea that can treat the cold and the flu.

Types of CTC Tea – Something for Every Palate

We have different types of CTC tea, such as Kadak Assam CTC for people who like their tea very strong, Gold CTC Chai for a smoother but still strong cup, Kadak Elaichi CTC with a cardamom twist, and Kadak Masala CTC with a traditional, spicy chai taste. We also have Ayur Chai, which is a wellness focused tea made with eight unique herbal spices.

CTC Tea 1kg Price & CTC Tea Price – Honest Value

Our CTC tea 1kg price is for everyday tea drinkers, families or small tea businesses. Our CTC tea price range extends from budget friendly Kadak Assam CTC to luxurious Gold CTC. We also offer smaller tea pack sizes from 250g.

Make it strong. Put in your spices. Pour your milk. And enjoy tea the right way. The tea of choice in India is Octavius CTC.