Tea lovers often look forward to encountering good tea. But when they do come across a great tea, they might not know how to praise it. In such cases, the all-purpose term “melts in the mouth” is likely to be used again. Each industry has its own jargon, or what is often referred to as “insider lingo.” Understanding professional terminology can help us better recognize and appreciate good tea.
The saying goes that even among nine sons born to a dragon, each one is different. The six types of tea also have distinct personalities and varied styles. Each type of tea has its own criteria for evaluation and aesthetic appreciation. For example, a beard might be considered “sexy” on a man but would be “quirky” on a woman.
Just like people, the same principle applies to tea. “Aged flavor” is generally seen as a flaw in most green teas, but it is a must-have characteristic for Sixpu tea and Pu'er tea. “Smoky pine aroma,” which is usually indicative of subpar processing in most white teas, is actually a selling point for Lapsang Souchong Black Tea and dark-haired teas. Therefore, learning how to praise tea is a necessary course for tea enthusiasts.
Below, we will discuss how to praise tea from four perspectives: appearance, aroma, taste, and infused leaves.
One, Green Tea
【Praise Appearance】
Fine and Tight: Fine, tightly coiled whole leaves with pointed tips.
Fine and Tender: Fine and tight, complete, and showing downy hairs.
Twisted: Twisted into spiral or loop shapes.
【Praise Aroma】
Fragrant: Fresh, rich, and lasting aroma with unique floral and fruity scents.
Fresh and Tender: Fresh and pleasant aroma of young tea.
Clear Fragrance: Fresh, pure, and brisk; although not high, the fragrance is elegant.
Floral Aroma: Fresh and sharp, similar to the scent of fresh flowers.
Chestnut Aroma: Resembles the aroma of roasted chestnuts, strong and lasting.
【Praise Taste】
Rich and Strong: Rich without bitterness, strong astringency, and a sweet aftertaste.
Fresh and Rich: Thick and fresh taste with a fragrant and lively sensation.
Fresh and Crisp: Fresh, clean, and brisk with vitality.
【Praise Infused Leaves】
Celadon Green: Color resembles green plums, bright and pleasing to the eye.
Tender Green: Fine and tender leaves, light green with a slight yellow hue, bright in appearance.
Tender Yellow: Light green with a yellowish hue, yellowish-white, and good brightness.
Two, White Tea
【Praise Appearance】
Plump Downy Buds: Plump, tender buds with abundant downy hairs.
White Down: Abundant downy hairs, white and glossy.
Bud and Leaf Connected: Bud and leaf connected in a cluster.
Silver Buds and Green Leaves: Refers to the appearance of downy buds and silver-white downy hairs on the leaf back, with the leaf surface being gray-green.
【Praise Aroma】
Fresh and Crisp: Fresh, lively, and crisp aroma of young tea.
Downy Aroma: Unique aroma of downy buds.
Fresh and Pure: Fresh and pure, with a downy aroma.
【Praise Taste】
Clear and Sweet: Fresh, brisk, and sweet taste upon entry.
Smooth and Crisp: Smooth and fresh.
Smooth and Rich: Smooth and richly flavored.
【Praise Infused Leaves】
Plump and Tender: Plump buds with soft and thick leaves.
Three, Huang Tea
【Praise Appearance】
Fine and Tight: Fine, tightly coiled whole leaves with pointed tips.
Plump and Straight: Whole bud, plump and straight, covered with downy hairs, needle-like shape.
Stem and Leaf Connected: Large leaves and long stems connected, a characteristic of Huoshan Huangda tea's appearance.
Golden Inlay Jade: “Golden” refers to the golden-yellow base color of the buds, while “Jade” refers to the white silver down covering them. This specifically refers to Junshan Silver Needle.
【Praise Aroma】
Fresh and Clear: Fresh, clear, and brisk, delicate and lasting.
Fresh Aroma: Fresh and refined, with a downy aroma.
High and Smoky Aroma: Similar to the aroma of stir-fried tea, strong and lasting.
【Praise Taste】
Sweet and Crisp: Crisp with a sweet taste.
Smooth and Crisp: Smooth and pleasant, slightly sweet aftertaste.
Fresh and Rich: Fresh, clean, and sweet and rich.
【Praise Infused Leaves】
Plump and Tender: Plump buds with thick leaves.
Tender Yellow: Yellowish-white, tender leaves, and good brightness.
Four, Qing Tea (Oolong Tea)
【Praise Appearance】
Dragonfly Head: Fat, stout leaves with curled tips, tightly bound like a dragonfly head.
Screw Shape: Tea leaves curled into a screw-like shape, tightly bound and heavy.
Eel Skin Color: Sand-green honey-yellow, resembling the skin color of an eel.
Toad Back Color: White spots like toad skin appear on the back of the leaves.
Black and Glossy: Black and glossy.
【Praise Aroma】
Rocky Essence: Refers to the special variety aroma characteristics in Wuyi Rock Tea in terms of aroma.
Guan Yin Essence: Refers to the special variety aroma characteristics in Anxi Tie Guan Yin in terms of aroma.
Rich and Intense: Rich and intense special floral and fruity aroma.
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