ARS | Publication request: SMALL-SCALE TEA GROWING AND PROCESSING IN HAWAII

Submitted to: Extension Service Bulletins
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: July 20, 2003
Publication Date: September 20, 2003
Citation: Cooperative Extension Service New Plants for Hawaii NPH-9, 14 pg.

Interpretive Summary: Producing tea in Hawaii was first attempted in 1887, but was not successful. The cooperative introductions of cultivars by the USDA, ARS, Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Tropical Plant Genetic Resources Management Unit and University of Hawaii CTAHR, Cooperative Extension Service, has reanimated interest in growing tea in Hawaii. The culture and management practices that have been successful for the Hilo unit including propagation, field planting, fertilization, pruning, pests, diseases and processing is outlined for the first time for home gardeners.

Technical Abstract: The USDA, ARS, Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Tropical Plant Genetic Resources Management Unit, Hilo, Hawaii and the University of Hawaii, CTAHR, Cooperative Extension Service have outlined their findings on cultivar suitability, propagation, filed preparation and planting, nutritional needs, pruning practices, pests and their symptoms and treatments, diseases and their symptoms and small batch processing for any interested home gardener in the hope that it will lead to a niche market product for Hawaii.