PURPOSE: To obtain powdered tea having the characteristic flavor of the tea roasted in a kettle, without using the step of steaming of tea leaves with externally supplied steam, by carrying out the whole drying steps in the preparation of powdered tea by heating in a roasting kettle.

CONSTITUTION: Raw tea leaves are thrown into a directly heated roasting kettle, and roasted and steamed under stirring. The roasted, steamed and dried tea leaves are transferred to a directly heated open kettle or a rotary roasting kettle furnished with a suction and ventilation devices, and agitated and dried under stirring. The dried tea leaves thus obtained is passed through a rotary mesh cylinder to separate the powdery tea leaves and to cool the leaves to normal temperature. The cooled leaves are thrown into an open kettle or a rotary kettle, and the main drying is carried out under stirring by heating the roasting kettle. After separating the stalks, etc. from the product by conventional method, the leaves are kneaded and dried in an open kettle or a rotary kettle furnished with suction and ventilation devices under stirring to obtain the objective powdered tea.