The Rise of Tea Industry Mechanization and the Role of Weighing & Packaging Machinery

Global Growth of the Tea Industry

In the past, tea picking, tea processing, and packaging were done manually by farmers. With rising living standards, consumer expectations for taste, quality, and packaging have significantly increased. The tea market is expanding globally, with the Global Tea Market Report noting that the market size reached USD 230 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow to USD 310 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 4.5%.

As one of the world’s largest tea producers, China plays a leading role in tea planting, production, and export. However, traditional labor-intensive methods are no longer sufficient to meet the increasing demand for quality and efficiency. This has made the mechanization of tea production an inevitable trend.

Mechanization: From Picking to Packaging

Today, mechanization has penetrated every stage of tea production—picking, rolling, drying, grading, weighing, and packaging. Among these, tea packaging machinery has become a key focus, as it ensures consistency, speed, and quality in delivering products to the market.

With continuous technological updates, tea packaging equipment is being upgraded to adapt to diverse production processes and higher standards for hygiene, safety, and automation.

Government Support for Industry Modernization

Beyond consumer demand, government policy support has accelerated the mechanization of tea production. According to the Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Healthy Development of the Tea Industry, by 2025:

• Tea gardens will remain stable in area.

• The technological contribution rate of the tea industry will reach 65%.

• The total output value of dry tea will reach 350 billion yuan.

• Annual tea exports will achieve USD 2.5 billion.

• Large-scale tea industry enterprises with sales over 2 billion yuan will emerge.

These policies highlight the government’s commitment to building a modern, high-quality tea industry that integrates primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors.

Opportunities for Weighing & Packaging Machinery

The shift toward mechanization presents opportunities and challenges for weighing and packaging machinery manufacturers in China. To remain competitive, companies must continuously invest in technological innovation, R&D, and quality improvements.

Guangdong Kenwei: Precision Packaging Solutions

Guangdong Kenwei Intellectualized Machinery Co., Ltd. has specialized in the development of fully automatic weighing and packaging machinery for over 18 years. By providing tailored solutions for the food, hardware, and chemical industries, Kenwei helps tea producers achieve high-quality, efficient, and safe production.

Featured Products for Tea Packaging

ll Series 14-Head Standard Multihead Weigher

• Ideal for small-weight granular products such as tea leaves, raisins, coffee beans, and plastic pellets.

• Capable of storing 100 parameter settings to meet diverse production needs.

• Features:

  • Easy-to-remove in-feed and discharge funnels for quick cleaning.

  • Mold manufacturing process for improved component interchangeability.

  • Double parallel linear vibrator for reduced vibration and greater accuracy.

  • Accuracy: X(0.5) | Speed: up to 120 p/min.

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C1000 High Precision Check Weigher

• Ensures each product meets preset weight standards, automatically rejecting defective items.

• Wide weighing range with intelligent parameter adjustment.

• Capable of generating real-time statistical reports for production monitoring.

• Designed for various packaging types including plastic bags, cartons, bulk paper bags, and metal film packaging.

• PLC control system with belt conveyor ensures stable, accurate operation.

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Commitment to Food Safety and Quality

Food safety is a top priority in the tea and food packaging industries. Kenwei ensures all machinery is made with food-grade 304 stainless steel and adheres to strict quality standards. With nearly two decades of expertise in multihead weighers and check weighers, Kenwei continues to provide reliable, customized solutions to meet the growing needs of the tea industry.