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Tea Tasting
An at home tea drinkers guide to tea tasting
Our Tasting Guide
We know that not everyone aspires to be a tea sommelier, and that’s perfectly fine! That’s why we’ve created a simplified, modern guide to help you explore the basics of tea tasting in a fun and accessible way. If some parts feel confusing at first, don’t worry—it’ll all make sense by the end. To enhance your journey, we’ve included downloadable Tea Tasting Cards and Flavor Profile Wheels, which we recommend printing out before you begin. Learning how to properly taste tea will deepen your appreciation for the quality of our leaves and give you a glimpse into the art of crafting our rare teas. Plus, it’s a chance to connect with the farmers and artisans who bring these teas to life.
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Remember to alway start with clean water that is heated to the correct temperature. You can find all correct temperatures on the back of our tea bags
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It is best to use a scale and measure 2g of tea per tasting
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Have your tasting card & flavor profile wheel ready to go
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Trust your first instinct, it will lead you to the correct flavor in the wheel
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Not everyone tastes the same flavors so do not be afraid to write down a different profile than we have suggested
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Lastly, enjoy your exploration of tea tasting as you embark on your new journey as an at home tea aficionado!
How to Taste Tea Simplified
Many of us have been enjoying tea for years without fully understanding the unique characteristics that define each variety. We can usually tell if we like or dislike a tea, but we may not know exactly why. Learning how to use the aroma wheel and identifying the key characteristics of each tea can deepen your appreciation and enhance your tea-buying decisions. Plus, it’ll give you the chance to impress your friends with your newfound tea expertise!
When it comes to tea, two main factors play a crucial role in shaping the overall experience: environment and processing. These elements influence how the tea feels (body), smells (aroma), and tastes (flavor). By paying attention to these factors, you'll be able to discern subtle differences between teas and develop a more refined palate for the drink you love.
First, let's explore the environment—just as with wine or coffee, the environment in which tea is grown plays a significant role in the final product. Key factors like temperature, rainfall, soil quality, and humidity influence the tea plant’s growth, shaping its unique characteristics. These elements determine how the leaves develop and what flavors and aromas they will carry into your cup.
The second factor is processing, where the skill of the tea master comes into play. This is where ancient and modern techniques are blended to bring out the best qualities of the tea, enhancing the flavors and aromas that the environment has set in motion. Whether through traditional hand-rolling methods or more contemporary innovations, processing determines how the tea’s characteristics are expressed.
When shopping for tea, it’s essential to consider both of these factors—environment and processing. Together, they create a tea that should take you on a sensory journey, offering layers of flavor and aroma that tell the story of where and how it was made. A well-crafted tea invites you to explore its depth, much like savoring a fine wine or a perfect cup of coffee.
Flavor Wheel
Tasting Card
Aroma
Tea Name
This part is simple: just write down the type of tea you're tasting, such as Black, Oolong, Green, Purple, or White.
Tea Type
This part is simple: just write down the type of tea you're tasting, such as Black, Oolong, Green, Purple, or White.
Aroma
It’s fascinating to think that about 90% of what we taste actually comes from what we smell. This is why aroma is such an important part of the tea experience. When tasting tea, you can use two different approaches to engage your sense of smell: deep inhalation and rapid action.
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Deep inhalation allows you to take in the full, complex aroma of the tea, letting you savor the nuanced scents that arise from both the brewed leaves and the liquid in your cup. This gives you a better understanding of the tea’s depth, complexity, and overall profile.
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Rapid action, on the other hand, can help you detect the more immediate, fleeting notes that quickly hit your nose. This can reveal subtle, hidden aromas that may not come through with a slower, more deliberate sniff.
To fully appreciate the flavor of your tea, be sure to smell both the brewed leaves and the brewed cup. The aroma of the leaves gives you insight into the tea’s raw character, while the fragrance of the brewed cup reflects how the flavors have developed through steeping. Together, these sensory experiences form your first true understanding of the tea’s flavor profile, helping you to better recognize and appreciate the unique qualities of each blend.
Body
The body of the tea is all about the sensations you experience in your mouth when you take a sip. It’s not just about flavor—it’s the texture and mouthfeel that make each tea unique. When you drink, ask yourself:
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How does it feel? Is it smooth, silky, or maybe rich and full-bodied?
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Does it leave you with a cool, refreshing sensation, or a dry, astringent finish?
These sensations can vary greatly depending on the tea’s origin, processing, and even the specific way it's brewed. For example, some teas may have a light, almost watery body, while others might feel thick or creamy, almost like a warm broth. A strong astringency can make your mouth feel dry, while a smooth body might leave a comforting, almost velvety aftertaste.
The body of the tea works in tandem with the aroma and taste to create the full experience. Together, these three elements—feel, aroma, and taste—form the trifecta that defines a great tea. When all these aspects come together harmoniously, they elevate the tea-drinking experience and give you a deeper connection to what you’re drinking.
Flavor Profile
Scientists have identified five basic tastes that we can detect: sweet, salty, acidic (sour), bitter, and savory (umami). These basic tastes serve as the foundation for how we experience flavors. But when it comes to tea, the complexity of flavor goes far beyond just these five, which is where the aroma/tasting wheel becomes so useful.
The aroma wheel helps break down the many subcategories of these basic tastes and aromas, guiding you to recognize more specific elements in your tea. For example:
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A sweet tea might have hints of honey or fruit, but the aroma wheel will help you pinpoint if it’s more like citrus sweetness or a rich, caramel note.
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Bitter teas, like some black or green varieties, might present as astringent or pungent, but the wheel can help you identify whether it’s more floral or woody in nature.
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Savory (umami) teas, such as some Japanese greens, might evoke the taste of broth or seaweed, and the aroma wheel can help you define that deeper, more savory flavor.
Using the wheel as a guide allows you to break down the layers of flavor, helping you go beyond just recognizing whether you like a tea and start to identify exactly what it is about that tea that appeals to you. It’s like learning a new language to describe the complexity of flavors, and once you do, it opens up a whole new level of enjoyment!
We recommend identifying at least 3 distinct flavors
Tasting Notes
These are your personal, non-professional notes on your tea tasting experience. Feel free to write anything from “An exquisite flavor that made me feel like I was in the Rainforest in Colombia” to “super yummy.” These notes will help you remember your favorite teas and guide you in creating the perfect food pairings.