Good tea often shares similarities with fine food. For example, both have certain evaluation criteria: food is judged by its color, aroma, and taste; while good tea is evaluated by its appearance (both dry leaves and infused leaves), aroma, and mouthfeel.

Just like finding your favorite cuisine, selecting a suitable tea involves considering these three aspects. However, it's not just about these three factors. To find the right tea for you, you first need to understand your own taste preferences. For instance, dietary habits differ between the north and south, generally speaking, southern tastes are sweeter while northern tastes are saltier. But not everyone leans towards one specific taste; some people can accept both or are indifferent to either, which demonstrates individual differences in taste.

Tea is similar. Some people have clear likes and dislikes, while others enjoy both strong and mild flavors. How do you choose a tea that suits your taste? You can try the following three categories:

Strong Flavor Preference

For those who prefer a strong mouthfeel in their tea, you can start by trying Pu'er ripe tea, which has a rich infusion and a thick, full-bodied texture, along with a unique aroma.

If you find this too intense, consider trying Wuyi rock tea, or Hei Cha (dark tea) that doesn't look particularly appealing in appearance. The flavor of Hei Cha is slightly milder compared to Pu'er ripe tea and Wuyi rock tea. In fact, fragrant Black Tea is also an excellent choice, offering a great balance of flavor and aroma, and it pairs well with various ingredients such as milk or lemon.

Mild Flavor Preference

For those who favor a mild flavor, unfermented or lightly fermented Green Tea and white tea are ideal choices. Both the infusion and the infused leaves of green and white teas provide a fresh and elegant visual and sensory experience.

The aroma of green tea is slightly stronger than that of white tea, and its flavor is a bit more pronounced. Generally speaking, green tea has a refreshing mouthfeel, while white tea tends to be sweeter. These are usually easy to accept for those who prefer lighter flavors. If you choose aged white tea (more than three years old), the mouthfeel will be gentler compared to fresh white tea, making it suitable for those who prefer mild flavors.

Aroma Lover

For those who love the aroma of tea, fragrant black tea, jasmine-scented green tea (made from green tea), and floral Oolong teas like osmanthus oolong or peach oolong (usually made from Tie Guan Yin oolong) would be top picks.

These floral teas have prominent aromas and a relatively mild mouthfeel, making them suitable for cold brewing. If you prefer a stronger flavor, you can increase the amount of tea used and brew with hot water.

In the end, to find the right tea for you, you should try different types to better understand your own taste preferences, allowing you to select the tea that most aligns with your personal preference.