Tea Tasting - Part 2

Tea tasting can be as extensive and detailed as wine tasting. During tea tasting you are looking for 4 main factors - look, feel, smell, taste.

Today we are going to talk about smell.

Smell the leaves before steeping. Do they smell grassy, smoky or sweet?

After steeping, take in the aroma of the tea deeply and enjoy the bouquet. Does the smell appeal to you? Examine the infused leaves for color and evenness. Color does not necessarily indicate the strength or body of the liquor, but every tea has a unique look, taste, and feel particular to that tea.

Over time you will not only smell quality but flavors that the mouth might overlook.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009 - 2010
Teaporia by Tea Time with Liv

Tea Tasting 101 - Part 1

Tea tasting can be as extensive and detailed as wine tasting. During tea tasting you are looking for 4 main factors - look, feel, smell, taste.

Today we are going to talk about look and feel starting with the dry leaf.

You can tell a lot about tea by the look and feel of the the dry leaves. Take a few tea leaves into the palm of your hand and gently press the leaves with your fingers. A fresh tea will be spring back and less likely to crumble than older teas. Gently press some dry leaves in your hand. Most new teas are a little springier and less likely to crumble than an older teas.

What you want to look for in a dry leaf is - springy, curly, neat, blackish, clean, and leafy.

What you do not want to find is - mushy, ragged, grey, dull, uneven, easily crumbled

When learning about tea it is best to start with a black tea in my opinion. It is a common tea we are all familiar with and you will notice the differences quicker.

Gather a group of your friends for an afternoon tea and hold your own tea tasting. Choose from a wide variety of teas from Teaporia by Tea Time with Liv.

If you live in the Albuquerque/Rio Rancho area and would like a hosted tea tasting, contact Olivia at teatimewithliv@gmail.com to reserve your date.


Olivia Vidal
© 2009 - 2010
Teaporia by Tea Time with Liv