Tea leaves are pruned regularly for the following reasons:
Encourages new growth: Pruning the tea plant stimulates the growth of new shoots and leaves. By removing old, damaged or diseased branches, the plant can focus its energy on producing new healthy growth. This leads to a higher yield of tea leaves which can be harvested for use in making tea.
Improves tea quality: Pruning helps to ensure that the tea leaves are of high quality. By removing weaker, smaller or immature leaves, the plant can focus its energy on producing larger, more mature and flavorful leaves. This results in a higher quality tea that is more flavorful and aromatic.
Controls plant size: Pruning helps to control the size of the tea plant. By removing excessive growth, the plant can be kept to a more manageable size, making it easier to harvest the leaves. This also ensures that the plant is healthy and not overgrown, which can lead to disease or pest problems