DRIED HERBS CLASSIFICATION FOR TEAS AND INFUSION PRODUCTION

Herbal teas and infusion blends typically combine leaves, flowers, stems and other plant parts that have different sizes, shapes and densities; and can be grinded to fine particles. Sieving allows producers to separate these materials into defined fractions, remove dust and too‑fine particles, and eliminate oversized stems or foreign bodies. The result is a more uniform infusion behaviour, controlled visual appearance and a reduction of unwanted fines in the packed blend.

In this segment, direct experience with tea producers has shown that process organisation strongly influences the choice of screening equipment. Many plants run campaigns dedicated to several ingredients processed separately, with frequent changeovers between different herbs and cuts. Each campaign requires mesh changes and thorough internal cleaning to avoid cross‑contamination and to maintain product quality across the portfolio. For this reason, medium‑sized vibrating sieves — typically in the 900 or 1200 diameters — offer the best balance between capacity, ease of handling and accessibility; while, of course, also bigger sieve sizes remain available for very high productivity streams.

MLT Cuccolini applies its powder and granules classification solutions to dried herbs, using configurations that favour rapid access to the decks, quick clamping systems and ergonomics that support frequent opening and internal cleaning. Mesh sizes are selected based on the desired cut between dust, fine particles, standard herbal pieces and oversize stems, and can be adjusted from campaign to campaign as product requirements evolve. Gentle but effective vibration is used to handle the fragile herbal material minimising its breakage, while still obtaining clean separations.

Depending on the layout, these sieves can be installed after cutting or shredding machines, at intermediate storage points or upstream of blending and final packaging. Medium machine sizes allow integration into compact plants while still providing sufficient screening surface to achieve the required throughput. When necessary, appropriate mesh cleaning accessories can be added to control blinding caused by lightweight or slightly sticky herbal fragments, maintaining stable throughput over the course of each campaign.

Choosing MLT Cuccolini vibrating sieves for dried herbs sieving supports tea and infusion producers in aligning equipment configuration with real production practice — campaign‑based operation, frequent changeovers and high expectations on product appearance and cleanliness. The use of medium‑sized machines, easy access for cleaning and proven classification layouts leads to more consistent cuts, reduced cross‑contamination risk and better protection of downstream blending and packaging equipment.

By combining application know‑how in herbal processing with flexible sieve configurations, MLT Cuccolini helps process engineers and plant designers design lines that remain efficient and easy to operate, even with wide ingredient portfolios and frequent recipe changes.

Are you looking to optimise dried herbs sieving for teas and infusions, with equipment suited to campaign‑based production and frequent cleaning? Contact our team to review your layout and ingredient portfolio and define the MLT Cuccolini vibrating sieve configuration that best supports your throughput and quality targets.