A process for manufacturing amino acid-rich tea or tea extract is provided. The process uses tea starting material comprising at least 50 wt % of tea plant material harvested within 3 hours before and after sunrise and then processing the tea in a conventional tea process and packaging to provide a vendible tea product comprising at least 50 wt % of tea plant material harvested within 3 hours before and after sunrise. The observation that tea has more amino acids near to sunrise gives rise to a tea which is naturally high in amino acids.