With advancements in science and rapid growth of technology, different industries around the world are benefiting from the innovations and modern initiatives. The tea industry is no exception, with technology taking over new methods and techniques of nurturing and harvesting tea plants and the preparation of refreshing beverages. The innate culture and tea traditions are also embracing the new developments. Through proper intervention of AI and technological advancements, tea manufacturing is taking novel steps without losing touch with its roots. 

Artificial intelligence has already taken over the way we work and think these days; however, its interference in something traditional like tea surprises us. From quality control of harvest to crop management and tea production, AI is significantly making a difference in every aspect. Let us find out more about the emerging role of AI and how it is revolutionising the tea industry. 

Innovative Farming Techniques To Ensure Healthy Production Of Tea Plants 

Precision farming is a modern technique and one of the greatest boons of AI to the tea industry. It has been introduced to modern-day agriculture, where AI-powered drones are used for monitoring. These sensors are particularly helpful in checking on crops and their progress in the vast field without having to do it manually through a field visit. Further, the assessment reports help to understand the soil profile and quality, along with the level of moisture. Pest risks across the fields are also minimised through observations made via AI. The tools are devised to keep the crops healthy by suggesting better usage of water and resources. This leads to a better quality of harvest at the end of the season and a consistent production cycle. 

AI also offers valuable insights into the oxidation process, which is a critical step in tea production and developing flavours. Through ensuring that the oxidation state is consistent and steady for the harvest, AI aids in developing bulk tea in diverse flavours. Steady quality across batches is also favourable for the sellers as the same level of aroma and flavour promotes more profit. 

Climate Change And Weather Predictions With AI 

The process of tea manufacturing and growing tea in plantations is greatly influenced by the prevailing weather conditions. When the weather is unpredictable, it is hard to say which time of the year is suitable for the tea harvest. This would often lead to failure in production and economic loss. 

With more accurate weather, production is now possible with AI-powered tools used by farmers to make informed decisions. By offering greater insights about the upcoming weather conditions, the vital cycles of harvest can be planned for a successful production. While this field is still emerging, there is potential for more development to align harvesting of tea crops with rain cycles and seasonal changes. 

Tools Powered By AI Help In Quality Testing 

Another vital aspect that comes into play is the consistency of quality that must be maintained during tea production and sales. These are practical challenges, and traditionally, quality check manually fails to rise to the occasion. Physical samples sent to the labs for testing are an expensive and time-consuming process, which is better avoided. With the discovery of quality testing tools, analysis of a small amount of tea can help to predict the quality of the entire batch. Any unwanted additives can also be detected instantly with these analytical tools and AI intervention. With faster and more convenient results, tools like ProfilePrint can help one find the clarity and aroma of the leaves. 

Pesticide Detection On The Spot 

AI-based devices are used in the field and tea plantations to detect the presence, absence and concentration of pesticides and insecticides in the soil. Any such residue picked up and imbibed by the leaves can be detected with the help of these tools. These are small and portable machines that are carried to the plantation by the field experts. This way, farmers no longer have to wait for results to arrive from the lab and rather see the outcomes almost instantly in the field itself. While such devices are still under revision and modifications, they hold promising prospects for farmers to engage in the sustainable growth of tea plants and the safety of consumers. This is also regarded as a practical solution since the cost involvement is comparatively low and the time consumed is minimal.

Robots That Resolve Labour Challenges 

Production of tea for many years has relied on manual labour and skilled workers. However, that’s no longer the scenario with the intervention of AI in harvesting tea. Robots are equipped with AI in certain parts of the world to detect and pick the best quality leaves and segregate them in a short duration. The precision is impressive, and the world gets done at a faster pace. These robots are highly useful in large-scale production where both speed and manual labour are constraints; however, the high cost of maintaining and acquiring these robots has prevented their presence in smaller farms. 

Providing Assistance To Small-Scale Farmers 

For small farmers and production scales, having AI tools might seem like a luxury. With the cost being out of reach, technological access seems limited. However, there are practical tools that are designed within budget for small-scale production houses and farms. Virtual Agronomists provide advice on crop quality via messages, reducing the cost of technology and tool acquisition. Tailored guidance for farmers on the use of fertilisers and pest management is often offered through these virtual methods. For instance, PlantVillage is a tool which is used by farmers to detect the different impacting diseases found in plants and how they affect growth, quality and to what extent. 

These tools mainly rely on the information presented by a local lead farmer who voluntarily gets involved to share his knowledge among the other members of the tea production community in the area. Since these AI tools do not require a big investment, the smaller farms can yield better crops from such initiatives and the intervention of technology. 

Predictive Analysis For Yield Enhancement And Optimisation 

The vast amount of data regarding the quality, yield and progress of tea harvest is generated every day. However, it is not possible to manually maintain a record of the data and get back to it for analysis later on. This is where technology and AI come into play. AI can analyse a vast amount of data and offer insights based on the same. For instance, it integrates historical weather data with soil health records as well as plant growth metrics to predict and create models to forecast the future yield with utmost accuracy. 

Machine Learning In Quality Control 

As we already discussed, maintaining the quality of a batch with consistency is a major criterion for economic benefits and profit. Traditional, expert tea testers were employed to give an opinion on the quality and consistency of the flavour. However, in recent times, AI is augmenting the technique to provide an objective result on quality control. 

How Fermentation Is Monitored By AI 

There are various steps involved in tea production, and fermenting the leaves is also essential for developing taste and aroma. In the past, the process of fermentation was observed by experts manually, which made it both tedious and time-consuming. In recent times, this task has been left in the hands of AI, which provides real-time monitoring as well as control. AI-powered sensors are used in these tea farms to ensure that the fermentation process is carried out properly. Machine Learning algorithm helps to analyse the data after that and optimise the fermenting process for the benefit of yield. 

Blockchain And AI To Provide Traceability 

Here’s an interesting aspect of AI intervention in the tea industry. Through the integration of blockchain and AI, one can provide a robust solution to customers’ demand for traceability and the origin of the brand. Combining a blockchain immutable ledger with data analysis by AI provides detailed information about the journey of the brand and the process of tea manufacturing. This, in turn, helps to build trust and acquire more customers in the market. 

Conclusion

The integration of AI in the tea manufacturing industry helps to offer upgrades in quality. Through precision agriculture, efficient data analysis and management, and personalised marketing, AI successfully manages to create a difference in the tea industry. It can help sellers and tea manufacturers to meet modern demands while also upholding the heritage.