India has the world’s largest cropped area. The cropping pattern of foodgrains in India is dominated by cereal crops. The average size of an Indian farm holding is too small (below 2 hectares) which covers almost 80% of all Indian farmers.
Withering is used to remove excess water from the leaves and allows a very slight amount of oxidation. The process is also important in promoting the breakdown of leaf proteins into free amino acids and increase the availability of freed caffeine, both which change the taste of the tea.