Marie´s Blog

I have been to too many wine tasting events. Learn the tips to wine tasting to whether it would be European wines, Southern American or Californian wines but I never had any idea of how to tastes to different types of teas till I get to a tea shop who lets me enjoy the art of tea tasting more than the wine tasting.

Me and my friend from Italy went to one of the Louhu, Shenzhen City big shopping malls to find a very nice copy of Louis Vuitton bag (haha, let’s face the fact this is China, who cares)  and scarf but we end up sitting in one tea shop inside this mall the whole afternoon.

The tea connoisseur gave us many kinds of tea and with this vast flavors, I thought it would be hard to identify the taste as it can be difficult to describe the true taste of tea, or at least the perception of its qualities.Tasting tea is actually little bit complex but with the help of the tea connoisseur, it was easy to find out the difference.

Ways to taste teas:

1. Give the soaked leaves a few quick smells. These aromas are the keys to what you will later taste. Ask yourself questions like “Are there any particular words that come to mind? Flowers? Chocolate? Smoke? Spice?”
2. Make a sip. Ask questions: “Are those same aromas there now? Are there new things coming through? Does the flavor change from the time you sip it to after you’ve swallowed it?”
3. Try and embrace what the tea feels like in your mouth and on your tongue. Ask if is it strong and full or light and mild? Is it drying or thirst quenching? Does it quickly disappear off of your tongue or sit around leisurely with more to say?
4. Think about how the tea makes you feel. Do you feel calm? Cozy? Energized?

Here are the types of tea we tasted. I categorized this into major groups.

Flower tea

• Rose, Jasmine(Mo Li Hua Cha, Xiang Pian) Qingle hoes,  Huang Shan Ju Hua , Flowering tea(tied in a bundle which include globe amaranth, chrysanthemum, jasmine, lily, hibiscus, and osmanthus which when steeped, the bundle expands and unfurls in a process that emulates a blooming flower)

Smell: pleasant fragrant floral aroma and very soothing

Taste: sweet, refreshing and delicate taste

Oolong Tea

• Tie Guan Yin. This deep reddish color tea from Fujian is said to be very effective to to those who enjoy Kung Fu as it boosts apetite and gives more energy.

Smell: Highly aromatic

Taste: Rich mature flavor with bitter after taste

• Monkey Picked Tea. Legend says that over ten centuries ago, upon seeing his master pick tea leaves, a monkey climbed up and collected the leaves and brought them down for his master.

Smell Fresh orchid aroma

Taste A bold fruity flavor and a lingering finish sweet

Pu-er Tea

It is named after its origin, Pu’er County in southern Yunnan of China. One of the most beautiful traits of a Pu’er tea is that the quality, taste and value improves with age just like wines.

Smell: Smoky Aroma

Taste: Unpleasant “earthy” taste but good Pu’er teas have an incredibly smooth mouth-feel.

“The way of tasting tea is found in the form, in the color, in the fragrance, in the flavor.The beauty in tasting tea lies in the person, in the foundation, in the knowledge, in the setting.”