JPH0813241B2 - Hot air supply method in tea making process - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION << Object of Invention >><Industrial Field of Application> The present invention relates to a hot air supply method in a tea making process.

<Prior art> In the tea-making process such as leaf-beating, rough-rubbing, medium-rubbing, drying, and finishing, hot air is applied to the tea leaves to accelerate the drying. At this time, keep the temperature of the tea leaves at a predetermined value. It is an important control item in tea production quality to bring the dry state close to constant drying. In recent years, there has been an increasing trend to perform such management by automating tea making machines and using a microcomputer.

The techniques disclosed in JP-A-60-75235 and JP-A-63-264 are both developed for the purpose of automating a tea making machine and using a microcomputer. The former attempts to adjust the hot air temperature and the hot air amount so that the tea temperature measured during the tea making process approximates the set value pattern. In the latter, the target moisture content transition curve is uniquely defined from the input moisture content of tea leaves, the target extraction moisture content, and the setting process time, and based on this, the hot air temperature, hot air volume,
While calculating the target transition curves for other tea-making elements,
This is to maintain the temperature of tea leaves at the target value.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> However, since the former changes the hot air temperature and the hot air amount only for the purpose of approximating the tea temperature in the process to the set value pattern, the tea leaves among the management items in the previous term It may be sufficient to keep the temperature at a predetermined value, but the balance between the hot air temperature and the hot air amount is neglected. Therefore, a dry state far from constant-rate drying occurs, which may impair the quality of tea making.

In the latter, the tea temperature is maintained at a predetermined value, and the target moisture content transition curve and the target transition curve of the tea making element are determined for the purpose of constant rate drying, so the above-mentioned management items seem to be satisfied. . However, in the present technology, the target transition curve of the tea-making element is theoretically determined according to the target moisture content transition curve before the process starts, so if the actual moisture content is different from the target value, it will no longer exist. It can no longer be said that they are properly controlling tea-making elements. In addition, since the present technology requires a large number of accurate sensors, there is a problem that it is costly.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a hot air supply method in a tea making process, which can perform drying close to constant rate drying while maintaining the tea temperature at a predetermined value.

<Structure of the Invention><Means for Solving the Problems> A hot air supply method in a tea making process, which is the first invention of the present application, has a target tea temperature in a tea making process in which hot air is applied to tea leaves to dry them. It is equipped with a hot air temperature selection program that selects the target hot air temperature according to the measured tea temperature and a hot air flow rate selection program that selects the target hot air flow according to the execution hot air temperature and the execution tea leaf moisture value. .

Further, the hot air supply method in the tea making process which is the second invention according to the present application is a hot air that selects a target hot air temperature according to a target tea temperature and an actually measured tea temperature in a tea making process in which hot air is applied to tea leaves to dry them. It has a temperature selection program and a hot air flow rate selection program that selects the target hot air flow rate according to the execution hot air temperature and the execution tea leaf moisture value.The hot air flow rate selection program executes the target hot air flow calculated according to the execution hot air temperature. It is characterized in that it is configured to correct the target hot air flow rate to an arbitrary value when the hot air flow rate is out of the allowable range determined according to the moisture content.

Then, these inventions are intended to achieve the above object.

<Operation of the Invention> The present invention is a method for managing the temperature and air volume of hot air supplied to tea leaves, and the target hot air temperature approximates the tea temperature to a target value according to the target tea temperature and the measured tea temperature. The target hot air amount is selected according to the execution hot air temperature and the reference hot air temperature, thereby maintaining the balance between the target hot air temperature and the target hot air amount.

Explaining this concretely, the fact that the hot air temperature selected to maintain the tea temperature is high means that the tea temperature is hard to rise, and in this case, the constant rate drying of the tea leaves is performed. Since there is a high possibility that the surface will be crumbled and jerky, it is desirable to increase the amount of hot air to eliminate the jerky surface. Conversely, when the hot air temperature becomes low, the tea temperature tends to rise, that is, there is a high possibility that the efficient drying of the tea leaves has failed and it has dried up, so it is possible to reduce the amount of hot air and prevent overdrying. desirable.

On the other hand, an appropriate (allowable) range of hot air flow is also determined by the water content of the tea leaves. That is, if the moisture value of tea leaves is high, the amount of heat given is easily consumed for evaporation of water, so even if the amount of hot air is increased, it is possible to perform drying close to constant rate drying, but if the amount of hot air is too low, Since there is no choice but to raise the hot air temperature to maintain the temperature, there is a risk that the hot air temperature and the hot air amount are out of balance and the quality of tea making is impaired. On the other hand, if the water content of the tea leaves is low, the amount of heat applied is not easily consumed for the evaporation of water, so if the amount of hot air is increased, the constant rate drying will collapse and the material will dry. Therefore, in the present invention, the target hot air amount is selected according to the actual hot air temperature and the actual tea leaf moisture value to balance the target hot air amount and the target hot air temperature and promote constant rate drying of the tea leaves.

<Examples> The present invention will be described below based on illustrated examples. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is applied to all tea making processes in which hot air is applied to tea leaves to dry them. The tea-making process in the present invention means not only the time from the feeding of tea leaves of a particular tea-making machine to the taking-out, or a part thereof, but also a collective treatment of a plurality of tea-making machines. . In the present embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a tea making and kneading process will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a general centering machine 1. The middle kneading machine 1 applies hot air to the tea leaves in the body 2, while rotating the body 2 and the main shaft 4 around which a large number of kneading hands 3 are provided, so that the tea leaves are sandwiched between the inner wall of the body 2 and the kneading hands 3. The shape is adjusted and dried. Of these, only the configuration related to the supply of hot air will be described below, and the other configurations are not the gist of the present invention, so description thereof will be omitted.

The hot air supply structure of the central kneading machine 1 is composed of a gas furnace 5 for heating the outside air, a suction fan 6 and respective operation parts 7 and 8 thereof. The operation part 7 of the gas furnace adjusts the combustion amount of the gas burner 9 so that the measured value of the hot air temperature sensor 10 maintains the target value. The operation unit 8 of the suction fan adjusts the number of rotations of the suction fan 6 to generate a predetermined amount of hot air. Since the relationship between the rotation speed of the suction fan 6 and the hot air flow rate is not influenced by external factors, so-called feedback control is not performed. Sign
Reference numeral 11 denotes a moisture sensor, which measures the moisture value of tea leaves sampled in the body 2 and then returns them to the body 2 again. Reference numeral 12 denotes an exhaust gas temperature sensor, which is for setting the exhaust gas temperature as an alternative value of the tea leaf temperature based on the research result that the temperature of the tea leaves in the central kneading machine 1 matches the exhaust gas temperature. Of course, it is also possible to place a tea temperature sensor at an appropriate place and use the value. Reference numeral 13 is a hot air control unit mainly composed of a so-called microcomputer, which stores a program to be described later, inputs measured values of the moisture sensor 11 and the exhaust temperature sensor 12 as necessary, and operates the operation unit 7 of the gas furnace and the suction fan. And outputs a command to the operation unit 8. Therefore, when a command is issued from the hot air control unit 13, the gas furnace 5 and the suction fan 6 are operated, and the outside air is taken into the gas furnace 5 through the outside air intake port 14 and heated to a target value by the gas burner 9 and the body 2 After the tea leaves are heated and heated, the outlet 15
Is discharged to the outside of the body 2. Although the hot air supply device unique to the central kneading machine 1 using the gas furnace 5 has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.
It is also possible to adopt a structure such as the drying medium supply means (15) described in No. 4.

Next, a method for supplying hot air by the apparatus of this embodiment will be described. Prior to the explanation, some terms will be defined. "Target" used for target hot air temperature, target hot air volume, etc.
The “actual measurement” used for the actual measurement tea temperature and the like means the target value of the tea-making element to be obtained by operating each section with the operation section 7 of the gas furnace and the operation section 8 of the suction fan. It means a measured value at any time in the past or at any time measured by a class, and “execution” used for the execution hot air temperature, execution hot air volume, etc. is synonymous with the commonly used “execution”, and actually Means to do. For example, when the execution hot air temperature is described, it may be equal to the target hot air temperature, and when it is far from the actual numerical value, the actual measurement value may be used as the execution hot air temperature. Therefore, “execution” used in the present specification can be said to mean a target value or an actual measurement value at any point in time or in the past. The “reference” used for the reference hot air temperature and the like is synonymous with the “reference” generally used and means a standard provided for operating a control program described later for convenience. The process from START to RETURN in the flow chart of each program is called a period, and each step is represented by a symbol S as a control step.

First, the hot air supply program, which is the main routine, will be described with reference to FIG. Before executing this program, the initial reference hot air temperature SKNEP (changed each time in the process described below), initial hot air temperature SNEP, initial hot air flow SKAZE (changed each time in the process described below), target tea temperature MT
Is set. A plurality of target tea temperatures MT may be set as time passes, which will be described later. In addition, since it is necessary to raise the ambient temperature in the body 2 prior to the introduction of tea leaves into the middle kneader 1, the initial hot air temperature SN
The EP and the initial hot air flow SKAZE are output to the operation part 7 of the gas furnace and the operation part 8 of the suction fan as target values, respectively. Then, this program is executed at the same time when the tea leaves are put into the central kneading machine 1. First, in step S1, the initial reference hot air temperature SKNEP is input to the target hot air temperature NEP and the initial hot air flow SKAZE is input to the target hot air flow KAZE (second time). In the subsequent periods, the initial reference hot air temperature SKNEP and the initial hot air flow SKAZE, which were changed in the previous period, are entered respectively. In S2, the initial reference hot air temperature SKNEP at that time is input to the reference hot air temperature KNEP. At S3, the counter T is initialized to 0. S4 ~
S300 forms a loop, and in S4, it is determined whether or not the tea leaves have been taken out after the middle kneading process, and if true, the next initial hot air flow rate selection program S400 (described later) is executed, and then this period ends, If false, proceed to S5. The middle kneading process can be ended when a preset process time elapses, when the tea leaves have dried to a set moisture value, etc., but details thereof will be omitted. In S5, the values of the target hot air temperature NEP and the target hot air amount KAZE are output to the operation unit 7 of the gas furnace and the operation unit 8 of the suction fan, respectively. In S6, the timer waits for 20 seconds. In S7, 1 is added to the counter T. In S8, it is determined whether T = 6, that is, whether 2 minutes have elapsed after the program started. If true, the initial hot air flow rate change program S100
Execute (described later). If it is false, the process proceeds to S9, and it is determined whether T ≧ 15, that is, whether 5 minutes or more have elapsed after the start of the middle kneading process, and if true, the hot air temperature selection program S200 (described later) is executed. If false, return to S4. Hot air temperature selection program S2
After executing 00, proceed to S10, judge T = 3n (n is a natural number), and if true, execute the hot air flow rate selection program S300,
If false, return to S4. That is, when 5 minutes or more have passed after the start of the medium kneading process, the hot air temperature selection program S200 is executed every 20 seconds, and the hot air flow rate selection program S300 (described later) is executed every 1 minute. If the next crumpling process is scheduled to continue after the end of this program, the initial hot air temperature SNEP and the initial hot air flow rate SKAZE changed by the next initial hot air flow rate selection program S400 are set in the standby state. The value is output to the operation unit 7 of the gas furnace and the operation unit 8 of the suction fan.

Next is the initial hot air flow rate change program S100 which is a subroutine
Will be described. First, in S101, it is determined whether the moisture value (dry base) ZS at the time when two minutes have passed last time is ZS> 0. In the first period, ZS has an initial value of 0, so it becomes false and the process directly proceeds to S103. In the second and subsequent periods, the determination in S101 becomes true and the process proceeds to S102. In S102, the target hot air flow rate KAZE is changed based on the difference between the moisture value ZS when the previous period 2 minutes passed and the moisture value BS when the current period 2 minutes elapsed (current time) is performed by the following equation.

DF = (BS-ZS) * K1 KAZE = KAZE + DF (K1 = 1.5) In S103, BS is substituted for ZS in preparation for the next period. In the subsequent processing of S104 to S108, the hot air amount is corrected by the execution tea temperature (actual measurement tea temperature JT) and the execution moisture value (the moisture value BS at the time when 2 minutes have elapsed (current time) this time), which is a new technology in itself. Processing is performed. First, in S104, the allowable range of the hot air amount at the present time is obtained by the following formula. This is based on the research result that the appropriate amount of hot air for approximating constant-rate drying is regulated to some extent by the water content and temperature of tea leaves.

H1 = K2 + K3 * (BS-K4) + K5 * (JT-K6) L1 = K7 + K8 * (BS-K9) + K10 * (JT-K11) (K2 = 45, K3 = 2.0, K4 = 35, K5 = 1.1, K6 = 35, K7 = 30, K8 =
1.5, K9 = 35, K10 = 1.1, K11 = 35) The second term on the right side of the above formulas H1 and L1 [K5 * (JT-K6), K10 *
(JT-K11)] has a smaller value than that of the first term, and can be omitted. In this embodiment, it is adopted to improve accuracy. Then, it is determined whether or not the target hot air amount KAZE at the present time is included in the allowable range H1 to L1 of the hot air amount obtained in S105 and S107. The upper limit value H1 of the range is substituted, and if it falls below, the lower limit value L1 is similarly substituted in S108. S1
In 09, the target hot air flow rate KAZE is set to KM (the hot air flow rate at the end of the initial hot air flow rate change program) and KAZE is set to KH (the maximum hot air flow rate in one period) for use in the next initial hot air flow rate selection program S400 described later. Enter 0 for KL (the amount of hot air when it becomes smaller than KM for the first time in one period). This is the end of the description of the initial hot air flow rate changing program S100.

Next, the hot air temperature selection program S200 which is a subroutine will be described. First, in S201, a preset target tea temperature MT is read. In S202, exhaust temperature sensor
Read the 12 measured values as the measured tea temperature JT. In S203, it is determined whether the measured tea temperature ZT 20 seconds ago is ZT = 0. In the first period, it becomes true because ZT has an initial value of 0, so S2
Go to 04 and substitute the current measured tea temperature JT into ZT. In the second and subsequent periods, the determination in S203 becomes false, bypassing S204 and proceeding to S205. In S205, the NEP value is input to ZNEP for use in the hot air flow rate selection program S300, which will be described later, and in S206, a new target hot air temperature NEP is selected from the following equation.

DT = K12 * (JT-MT) + K13 * (JT-ZT) NEP = NEP + DT (K12 = 1.0, K13 = 3.0) After that, in S207, JT is substituted into ZT for the next process. This is the end of the description of the hot air temperature selection program S200.

Next, the hot air flow rate selection program S300 that is a subroutine will be described. First, in S301, the air volume change amount DK is calculated according to the reference hot air temperature KNEP and the execution hot air temperature. In this embodiment, the target hot air temperature NEP (current value of hot air temperature) and the target hot air temperature ZNEP of the previous time (20 seconds before) are used as the execution hot air temperature, and the air flow rate change amount DK is calculated from the following equation.

DK = K14 * (NEP-KNEP) + K15 * (NEP-ZNEP) (K14 = 0.15, K15 = 0.45) The second term (NEP-ZNEP) on the right side of the above equation represents the amount of change in the target hot air temperature. In S302, the allowable ranges H1 to L1 of the hot air amount are calculated in the same manner as in S104 for the processing described later. S303 ~ S3
The process of 06 is an example of a novel standard hot air temperature selection program. In this embodiment, the target hot air temperature NEP is used as the execution hot air temperature required for this program, and the target hot air flow KAZE is used as the execution hot air flow rate. First, in S303, the following equation is determined.

KAZE <m1 and NEP <(KNEP-3) (m1 = 70, and means AND) If the result of S303 is true, proceed to S304 and change the reference hot air temperature KNEP as shown in the following equation. If it is false, the process directly proceeds to S305.

KNEP = KNEP + K16 * (NEP-KNEP) (K16 = 0.2) This treatment is performed when the hot air volume KAZE is low (m1 = less than 70%) and the hot air temperature NEP is lower than the reference hot air temperature KNEP by more than 3 degrees. It is determined that the reference hot air temperature KNEP needs to be moved downward, and the reference heat temperature KNEP is changed according to the difference between the target hot air temperature NEP and the reference hot air temperature KNEP.

 Next, in S305, the following equation is judged.

KAZE> m2 amd NEP> (KNEP + 3) (m2 = 85, and means AND) If the result of S305 is true, proceed to S306 and change the reference hot air temperature KNEP as shown in the following equation. If false, the process directly proceeds to S307.

KNEP = KNEP + K17 * (NEP-KNEP) (K17 = 0.2) This process has a high target hot air volume KAZE (m2 = more than 85%),
When the target hot air temperature NEP is also higher than the reference hot air temperature KNEP by more than 3 degrees, it is determined that the reference hot air temperature KNEP needs to be moved upward, and the target hot air temperature NEP and the reference hot air temperature NEP
The reference hot air temperature KNEP is changed according to the difference of
The values of m1 and m2 described above are the values of the greatest common divisor consistent throughout the process, and are calculated from the following formula according to the upper limit value H1 and the lower limit value L1 of the allowable range of the hot air flow obtained in S302. May be.

m1 = (3 * H1 + 7 * L1) / 10 m2 = (7 * H1 + 3 * L1) / 10 The subsequent processing of S307 to S310 will prevent the hot air volume from approaching the empirically required dangerous value for tea quality. This is done to prevent it. First, the following equation is determined in S307.

KAZE <m3 and DK <0 (m3 = 65, and means AND) If the result of S307 is true, proceed to S308 and change the air flow rate change amount DK and the reference hot air temperature KNEP as shown in the following equation. And then
If false, the process directly proceeds to S309.

DK = DK / 2 KNEP = KNEP-1 In S309, the following equation is judged.

KAZE> m4 and DK> 0 (m4 = 90, and means AND) If the result of S309 is true, proceed to S310 and change the air flow rate change amount DK and the reference hot air temperature KNEP as shown in the following equation. And then
If false, proceed directly to S311.

The values of m3 and m4 described above are the greatest common divisor values consistent throughout the process, but depending on the upper limit H1 and the lower limit L1 of the allowable range of the hot air volume obtained in S302, You may ask.

m3 = (H1 + 9 * L1) / 10 m4 = (9 * H1 + L1) / 10 In S311, the target hot air volume KAZE is changed according to the following equation based on the air volume change amount DK.

KAZE = KAZE + DK In the subsequent S312, the target hot air volume KAZE selected in S311
It is determined whether the allowable range H1 of the hot air amount obtained in S302 is exceeded, and if true, the forced correction amount DH is calculated by the following equation in S313, and then the value of H1 is input to the target hot air amount KAZE.

DH = H1-KAZE KAZE = H1 If it is false, in S314, it is also determined whether the target hot air volume KAZE is less than L1, and if it is true, in S315, the forced correction amount is calculated by the following formula.
After calculating DH, enter the value of L1 in the target hot air volume KAZE.

DH = L1-KAZE KAZE = L1 If false, proceed directly to S318. Following S313 and S315, S3
At 16, the reference value change amount DN is calculated by the following formula.

DK = K18 * DH (K18 = -0.35) Then, in S317, the reference hot air temperature KNEP and the initial reference hot air temperature SKNEP are changed by the following equations.

KNEP = KNEP + DN SKNEP = SKNEP + DN Note that the worker forcibly sets the target hot air volume KAZE during the middle kneading process.
When corrected to KAZE ′, the forced correction amount DH is obtained by the following equation, and the subsequent processing of S316 and S317 is performed in the same manner.

DH = KAZE'-KAZE That is, when the forced correction amount DH takes a positive value, it means that the hot air volume was forcibly increased because it was insufficient. This is because the reference hot air temperature KNEP is too high. Therefore, the reference hot air temperature KNEP and the initial reference hot air temperature SKNEP are corrected to decrease. Conversely, the forced correction amount DH
Is a negative value, it means that the amount of hot air was too large, so it was forcibly reduced.This may be because the reference hot air temperature KNEP is too low. Correct the reference hot air temperature SKNEP in the increasing direction. In this sense, the above processing can be considered as part of the reference hot air temperature selection program. Next S318
The process in S321 is to set KH (maximum hot air amount in one period) and KL (hot air amount when it becomes smaller by KM first in one period) for the next initial hot air amount selection program S400 described later. It is what you want. Above,
This completes the explanation of the hot air flow rate selection program S300.

Program for selecting next initial hot air volume which is a subroutine
The S400 will be described. First, in S401, the following expression is determined. If true, the process proceeds to S402, and if false, the process proceeds to S403.

In KM ≦ KH S402, calculate the next initial hot air flow rate SKAZE by the following formula.

SKAZE = (KM + KH) / 2 In S403, calculate the next initial hot air volume SKAZE using the following formula.

SKAZE = (KM + KL) / 2 With the above, the explanation of the next initial hot air flow rate selection program S400 is completed.

As described above, according to the hot air supply program, the hot air temperature changes in the direction of decreasing with the drying of the tea leaves in order to maintain the tea temperature at a predetermined value during the period from the introduction of the tea leaves to the removal thereof.
When the hot air temperature decreases, the hot air amount also decreases according to the degree. The degree is determined by using the reference hot air temperature KNEP, and this reference hot air temperature KNEP gradually decreases according to the tea leaves and other conditions during the process. If the properties of the tea leaves fed to this process are the same, the initial reference hot air temperature SKNEP will be converged to an appropriate value as the number of times this program is repeated. These act synergistically, and the hot air temperature and the hot air amount supplied to the tea leaves are always maintained at appropriate values with a balance.

Next, the process is divided into two parts, the target tea temperature MT for each.
The case where it is set differently from MT1 and MT2 will be described. In this case as well, the flow of the program is almost the same. However, when the target tea temperature MT shifts from MT1 to MT2, the target hot air temperature NEP is changed by the interrupt process according to the following equation.

DT = MT2-MT1 NEP = NEP + K19 * DT (K19 = 7.0) This process is also used when the operator forcibly changes the target tea temperature MT during the process. The target tea temperature MT in the previous process
If the target tea temperature MT immediately after the start of the process is changed,
The amount of change is also set as DT, and the initial reference hot air temperature SKNEP is also changed by the following formula.

SKNEP = SKNEP + K20 * DT (K20 = 7.0) The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, in implementing the present invention, various applications are possible within the scope of the present invention in addition to the embodiments. is there.

<Effects of the Invention> According to the hot air supply method in the tea making process of the present invention, the target hot air temperature is selected according to the target tea temperature and the actually measured tea temperature, thereby maintaining the tea temperature at the target value and performing the hot air temperature execution. Since an appropriate target hot air flow rate is selected according to the tea leaf moisture value, the target hot air temperature and the target hot air flow rate change in a well-balanced manner while adapting to the state of the tea leaf, thus improving tea production quality.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view briefly showing an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 6 to FIG. 6 are flow charts showing an embodiment program of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a hot air supply program, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an initial hot air flow rate changing program, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a hot air flow rate selecting program, FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a hot air flow rate selecting program, and FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a first initial hot air flow rate selecting program. . 1; Middle kneading machine 2; Body 3; Rubbing hand 4; Main shaft 5; Gas furnace 6; Suction fan 7; Gas furnace operation part 8; Suction fan operation part 9; Gas burner 10; Hot air temperature sensor 11; Moisture sensor 12; Exhaust temperature sensor 13; Hot air control unit 14; Outside air intake 15; Outlet S100; Initial hot air flow rate change program S200; Hot air temperature selection program S300; Hot air flow rate selection program S400; Next initial hot air flow rate selection program T; Counter BS; Moisture value (actual moisture value) after 2 minutes (current time) from this period DK; Air volume change amount DH; Forced correction amount DN; Reference value change amount DT; Change amount H1 to L1; Allowable range of hot air volume (H1; Upper limit) Value, L1; lower limit value) JT; measured tea temperature KAZE; target hot air volume KH; maximum hot air volume in one period KL; hot air volume when it becomes smaller than KM first in one period KM; initial hot air volume change program Hot air volume at the end KNEP; Reference hot air temperature MT; Target tea temperature NEP; Target hot air temperature SKAZE; Initial hot air flow SKNEP; Initial reference heat Temperature SNEP; initial hot air temperature ZNEP; previous period 2 minutes elapsed time the moisture content (dry basis) ZT;; previous target hot air temperature ZS (20 seconds before) 20 seconds before the actual tea warm

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A hot-air temperature selection program for selecting a target hot-air temperature according to a target tea temperature and an actually-measured tea temperature in a tea-making process in which hot air is applied to tea leaves to be dried, and an execution hot-air temperature and an execution tea-leaf moisture value are set. A hot air supply method in a tea making process, which includes a hot air flow rate selection program for selecting a target hot air flow rate according to the target hot air flow rate. 2. A hot-air temperature selection program for selecting a target hot-air temperature according to a target tea temperature and an actually-measured tea temperature in a tea-making process in which hot air is applied to tea leaves to dry them, and an execution hot-air temperature and an execution tea-leaf moisture value are set. According to the hot air flow rate selection program, the target hot air flow rate calculation program selects the target hot air flow rate according to the execution hot air flow temperature, and the target hot air flow rate deviates from the allowable range of the hot air flow rate determined according to the execution tea leaf moisture value. At this time, the hot air supply method in the tea making process is configured to correct the target hot air amount to an arbitrary value.