The Language of Tea
Words
As with any other business, tea too has its own language. How words are used, when words are used and the proper pronunciations of the words are the basics that separate the expert from the novice. The language is learned through books, instruction and sometimes passed along from one generation to another.
Knowledge - the fact or condition of knowing something through experience or association
The kinds of words associated with tea tasting are those which describe the type of tea, the dry leaf, the infused tea leaf, and the tea liquor/brew. The terms generally relate to tea quality.
A Sampling of Tea Words to Start
Types
Black, Oolong (brown), Green, White and Yellow
The Dry Leaf
Desirable characteristics: Curly, wiry, neat, blackish, bloom, clean,
leafy, nose, tip, well twisted
Undesirable characteristics: Mushy, ragged, grey, light, uneven
The Infused Leaf
Desirable: biscuity, bright, coppery, smooth, self drinking, full,
rich, soothing, smokey
Undesirable: dull, dark, tarry
The Liquor/Brew
Desirable: body, bright, brisk, character, coloury, muscatel,
point, pungent, quality, strength, thick, flavour, full, malty, mature,
self-drinking, smokey
Undesirable:baggy, bakey, bitter, brassy, burned, coarse, common, dry, dull, musty, plain, raw, soft, stewed, sweaty, taint, weedy, thin, earthy, empty, fruity, hard, harsh, heavy, lacking, green (referring to black tea)
At first the words seem foreign, however, once you allow your senses to take over, the words for describing the magical leaf will seem logical and naturally flow from your lips.
