Tea Glossary Tea Glossary

 An important consideration in cupping teas is the smell which is given off. A favorable aroma is most often associated with a flavorful taste.

 A tea tasting term which describes a liquor which is pungent but inclined to be acidic.

 Describes the liquor from teas grown in Autumn, in cool weather. The term is most often applied to teas from Northern India.

 Describes an undesirable taint sometimes found in teas withered on inferior hessian or stored in sacks.

 An unpleasant characteristic noticeable in the liquors of teas which have been subjected to higher than desirable temperatures during processing.

 A desirable trait usually referring to a well fired Assam.

 A very brisk and "alive" tea liquor. A desirable trait.

 A mixture of teas from several different origins to achieve a certain flavor profile. Most branded teas in the United States use 20 or more origins to achieve their desired taste.

 Describes a tea liquor possessing fullness and strength.

 A lively tea, usually with a red liquor.

 Describes a live taste as opposed to flat or soft.

 A size of tea leaf comprising the smaller leaves and tips

 A degree worse than bakey.

 A component of tea which stimulates the nervous system. A cup of tea averages 40 milligrams of caffeine versus approximately 110 in a cup of coffee.

 A blend of black tea with various spices and steamed milk as commonly drunk in India.

 Traditional way of packaging bulk teas. Usually made of wood with an aluminum lining.

 Tea which has been contaminated by improperly seasoned or inferior chest panels.

 A select blend of large leaf teas from China.

 Describes the liquor of inferior tea having little character.

 From the Hindi; means to stamp. A chop of tea means a certain number of chests all carrying the same brand.

 Refers to color of the tea liquor, like a new penny. A good trait resulting from good manufacturing processes.

 A high quality tea which turns cloudy generally believed to be caused by the precipitation of tannins.

 Describes a bright, strong creamy liquor with distinctive character. Usually found in some second flush Assams and Dooars of Orthodox manufacture.

 Tea liquor which is not clear or bright.

 A term which has been used to describe the smallest particles of tea leaf

 An unfavorable characteristic generally caused by storing tea under damp conditions.

 Traditionally a blend of China Keemums. today the blend has evolved to include Ceylon and India teas to produce a full bodied brew.

 A term used to describe a plantation or garden where tea is grown.

 A very small size of tea leaf, although larger than dust.

 A term used to describe the processing of Oolong and Black teas. The actual chemical transformation which takes place is actually oxidation.

 A term used to identify pieces of stem in tea.

 Teas of exceptional quality and flavor.

 Very characteristic taste and aroma of fine teas, usually associated with high grown teas.

 The new growth on a tea plant consisting of a full complement of leaves. It takes about 40 days for a new bud to blossom into a flush.

 Tea grown on the island of Taiwan.

 A strong tea with good color and no bitterness.

 Referring to a taste of the liquor equated with being slightly over fired.

 Refers to a plantation or estate where tea is grown.

 A desirable feature resulting from good harvesting practices.

 Tea which is not good because it is old, mouldy, or otherwise tainted.

 Refers to well-made fannings and dust.

 Describes an unpleasant astringency which may be due to inadequate withering or fermentation.

 Tea which undergoes minimal processing and most resembles the original green leaf.

 A type of Green tea which has been rolled into pellets.

 A prized Japanese Green Tea which is rich to the taste and pleasing to the eye. The tea undergoes special handling at every stage of its growth (shaded) and processing (hand-fired).

 A desirable quality suggesting pungency, particularly applied to Assam teas.

 Refers to a tea which is bitter which could result from picking (plucking) tea before it is ready.

 A tea which is not brisk and overly strong.

 A tea that has remained in a dryer for a longer period than necessary, but not considered to be burnt.

 Describes the liquor of a tea which is lacking in cup quality.

A Japanese term referring to the first flush or first plucking of tea. It is generally a very delicate tasting tea.

 A rolled Green Tea from Ceylon, China, or India made from older leaves. It has a good aroma and is refreshing.

 Developed in the 1930's and commercialized in the 50's, instant tea sacrifices nuances in fragrance and flavor for convenience.

 Describes a liquor which is rather thin and lacking depth of color but which may be flavoury or pungent or both.

 Describes all of the teas offered under a single mark or serial number at any tea auction.

 An undesirable trait which imparts a metallic taste.

 An undesirable trait characterized by a mouldy taste and odor resulting from improper storage.

 A term which describes a dull or lifeless liquor.

 Describes a characteristic reminiscent of grapes. Also describes an exceptional characteristic found in the liquors of the finest second flush Darjeelings.

 A tea which may have been packed too moist.

 A tea liquor in which there is suspicion of mold.

 Describes a tea which has not had adequate time to mellow.

 A term used to connote a good aroma of tea.

 Describes liquor from tea which has lost through age those attributes which it possessed originally.

 Is used to identify a large leaf size. The tea is characterized by long, thin, wiry leaves which sometimes contain the white or yellow tip of the leaf bud.

 The process used by most tea tasters to evaluate the quality of a tea using all the senses.

 A Japanese tea which is steamed and then rolled in iron pans to halt further oxidation.

 A size of tea leaf characterized by leaves which are shorter and not as wiry as Orange Pekoe. The liquors generally have more color.

 A tea which may have been packed too moist.

 In Chinese, the term means ice water. A Black Tea from the Hangchow district of Zhejiang Province. An excellent mild tasting tea.

 Describes teas which are clean and innocuous but lacking character.

 A most desirable brisk pungent characteristic.

 A most desirable brisk pungent characteristic.

 Some of the finest quality and high priced teas. A very fragrant tea which is also used as a base for making Jasmine Tea.

 Technically classified not as black but dark black tea, the best of which is aged for decades before use. The base may be green tea or black, and its tastes and aromas can range from earthy to elegant. In China it has been customarily drunk with or after meals as a digestif.

 Describes a tea liquor having marked briskness and an astringent effect on the palate without bitterness.

 Describes a preponderance of desirable attributes which are the essential characteristics of a good tea.

 Describes liquor of a dull plain tea manufactured during the rainy season.

 A mellow liquor which is abounding in quality and thickness.

 A term used to connote harshness.

 Describes a tea liquor which has a full juicy flavor.

 These are teas which, after processing are put in close proximity with various flowers or spices under controlled temperature and humidity conditions for periods of about 4 hours and then refired.

 Describes an original tea which is palatable in itself and does not necessarily require blending before being consumed by the public.

 Another costly tea which utilizes the delicate whitish leaf from the first flush.

 This term describes an odor or taste of smoke, often caused by a defect in the drier.

 A tea which is under fermented or oxidized.

 This describes an undesirable acid odor and taste.

 A liquor having character, suggestive of cinnamon or cloves. This is sometimes, but not always, the effect of contamination.

 Used to describe a tea with visible stalk.

 A tea which holds its original color and flavor is described in this manner.

 No surprises here. A tea liquor which is above average.

 Describes certain thick liquoring teas, having undesirable characteristics as a result of incorrect firing.

 Describes a liquor with powerful tea characteristics, but not necessarily thick. A very desirable characteristic, but not essential in certain flavoury teas.

 An undesirable characteristic with a taste and odor foreign to the tea.

 The chemical component of tea thought to be responsible for its presumed health benefits. One of the major components which contributes to the taste and pungency of tea.

 A tea which has a smokey aroma.

 The leaf and extracted liquor of the shrub Camellia sinensis. No other beverages merit the unqualified term tea.

 An expert judge of the beverage. A person who uses organoleptic means to discern various characteristics and qualities of tea.

 The leaf bud of the Camellia sinensis plant.

 Describes tea liquor having substance, but not necessarily strength.

 Tea liquor which lacks thickness or strength.

 A term which describes an herbal infusion.

 A tea which has been slightly overfired during processing. It may be a desirable characteristic in some Darjeeling teas.

 Describes a soft, unpleasant characteristic, which is occasionally evident in the liquors of teas processed during very wet weather.

 Teas which have a thin liquor.

 A tea leaf which is tightly rolled or twisted, indicative of good withering.

 Another term which means well twisted.

 A characteristic reminiscent of freshly-cut timber. This trait is usually associated with teas processed very late in the season.

 An important consideration in cupping teas is the smell which is given off. A favorable aroma is most often associated with a flavorful taste.

 A tea tasting term which describes a liquor which is pungent but inclined to be acidic.

 Describes the liquor from teas grown in Autumn, in cool weather. The term is most often applied to teas from Northern India.

 Describes an undesirable taint sometimes found in teas withered on inferior hessian or stored in sacks.

 An unpleasant characteristic noticeable in the liquors of teas which have been subjected to higher than desirable temperatures during processing.

 A desirable trait usually referring to a well fired Assam.

 A very brisk and "alive" tea liquor. A desirable trait.

 A mixture of teas from several different origins to achieve a certain flavor profile. Most branded teas in the United States use 20 or more origins to achieve their desired taste.

 Describes a tea liquor possessing fullness and strength.

 A lively tea, usually with a red liquor.

 Describes a live taste as opposed to flat or soft.

 A size of tea leaf comprising the smaller leaves and tips

 A degree worse than bakey.

 A component of tea which stimulates the nervous system. A cup of tea averages 40 milligrams of caffeine versus approximately 110 in a cup of coffee.

 A blend of black tea with various spices and steamed milk as commonly drunk in India.

 Traditional way of packaging bulk teas. Usually made of wood with an aluminum lining.

 Tea which has been contaminated by improperly seasoned or inferior chest panels.

 A select blend of large leaf teas from China.

 Describes the liquor of inferior tea having little character.

 From the Hindi; means to stamp. A chop of tea means a certain number of chests all carrying the same brand.

 Refers to color of the tea liquor, like a new penny. A good trait resulting from good manufacturing processes.

 A high quality tea which turns cloudy generally believed to be caused by the precipitation of tannins.

 Describes a bright, strong creamy liquor with distinctive character. Usually found in some second flush Assams and Dooars of Orthodox manufacture.

 Tea liquor which is not clear or bright.

 A term which has been used to describe the smallest particles of tea leaf

 An unfavorable characteristic generally caused by storing tea under damp conditions.

 Traditionally a blend of China Keemums. today the blend has evolved to include Ceylon and India teas to produce a full bodied brew.

 A term used to describe a plantation or garden where tea is grown.

 A very small size of tea leaf, although larger than dust.

 A term used to describe the processing of Oolong and Black teas. The actual chemical transformation which takes place is actually oxidation.

 A term used to identify pieces of stem in tea.

 Teas of exceptional quality and flavor.

 Very characteristic taste and aroma of fine teas, usually associated with high grown teas.

 The new growth on a tea plant consisting of a full complement of leaves. It takes about 40 days for a new bud to blossom into a flush.

 Tea grown on the island of Taiwan.

 A strong tea with good color and no bitterness.

 Referring to a taste of the liquor equated with being slightly over fired.

 Refers to a plantation or estate where tea is grown.

 A desirable feature resulting from good harvesting practices.

 Tea which is not good because it is old, mouldy, or otherwise tainted.

 Refers to well-made fannings and dust.

 Describes an unpleasant astringency which may be due to inadequate withering or fermentation.

 Tea which undergoes minimal processing and most resembles the original green leaf.

 A type of Green tea which has been rolled into pellets.

 A prized Japanese Green Tea which is rich to the taste and pleasing to the eye. The tea undergoes special handling at every stage of its growth (shaded) and processing (hand-fired).

 A desirable quality suggesting pungency, particularly applied to Assam teas.

 Refers to a tea which is bitter which could result from picking (plucking) tea before it is ready.

 A tea which is not brisk and overly strong.

 A tea that has remained in a dryer for a longer period than necessary, but not considered to be burnt.

 Describes the liquor of a tea which is lacking in cup quality.

A Japanese term referring to the first flush or first plucking of tea. It is generally a very delicate tasting tea.

 A rolled Green Tea from Ceylon, China, or India made from older leaves. It has a good aroma and is refreshing.

 Developed in the 1930's and commercialized in the 50's, instant tea sacrifices nuances in fragrance and flavor for convenience.

 Describes a liquor which is rather thin and lacking depth of color but which may be flavoury or pungent or both.

 Describes all of the teas offered under a single mark or serial number at any tea auction.

 An undesirable trait which imparts a metallic taste.

 An undesirable trait characterized by a mouldy taste and odor resulting from improper storage.

 A term which describes a dull or lifeless liquor.

 Describes a characteristic reminiscent of grapes. Also describes an exceptional characteristic found in the liquors of the finest second flush Darjeelings.

 A tea which may have been packed too moist.

 A tea liquor in which there is suspicion of mold.

 Describes a tea which has not had adequate time to mellow.

 A term used to connote a good aroma of tea.

 Describes liquor from tea which has lost through age those attributes which it possessed originally.

 Is used to identify a large leaf size. The tea is characterized by long, thin, wiry leaves which sometimes contain the white or yellow tip of the leaf bud.

 The process used by most tea tasters to evaluate the quality of a tea using all the senses.

 A Japanese tea which is steamed and then rolled in iron pans to halt further oxidation.

 A size of tea leaf characterized by leaves which are shorter and not as wiry as Orange Pekoe. The liquors generally have more color.

 A tea which may have been packed too moist.

 In Chinese, the term means ice water. A Black Tea from the Hangchow district of Zhejiang Province. An excellent mild tasting tea.

 Describes teas which are clean and innocuous but lacking character.

 A most desirable brisk pungent characteristic.

 A most desirable brisk pungent characteristic.

 Some of the finest quality and high priced teas. A very fragrant tea which is also used as a base for making Jasmine Tea.

 Technically classified not as black but dark black tea, the best of which is aged for decades before use. The base may be green tea or black, and its tastes and aromas can range from earthy to elegant. In China it has been customarily drunk with or after meals as a digestif.

 Describes a tea liquor having marked briskness and an astringent effect on the palate without bitterness.

 Describes a preponderance of desirable attributes which are the essential characteristics of a good tea.

 Describes liquor of a dull plain tea manufactured during the rainy season.

 A mellow liquor which is abounding in quality and thickness.

 A term used to connote harshness.

 Describes a tea liquor which has a full juicy flavor.

 These are teas which, after processing are put in close proximity with various flowers or spices under controlled temperature and humidity conditions for periods of about 4 hours and then refired.

 Describes an original tea which is palatable in itself and does not necessarily require blending before being consumed by the public.

 Another costly tea which utilizes the delicate whitish leaf from the first flush.

 This term describes an odor or taste of smoke, often caused by a defect in the drier.

 A tea which is under fermented or oxidized.

 This describes an undesirable acid odor and taste.

 A liquor having character, suggestive of cinnamon or cloves. This is sometimes, but not always, the effect of contamination.

 Used to describe a tea with visible stalk.

 A tea which holds its original color and flavor is described in this manner.

 No surprises here. A tea liquor which is above average.

 Describes certain thick liquoring teas, having undesirable characteristics as a result of incorrect firing.

 Describes a liquor with powerful tea characteristics, but not necessarily thick. A very desirable characteristic, but not essential in certain flavoury teas.

 An undesirable characteristic with a taste and odor foreign to the tea.

 The chemical component of tea thought to be responsible for its presumed health benefits. One of the major components which contributes to the taste and pungency of tea.

 A tea which has a smokey aroma.

 The leaf and extracted liquor of the shrub Camellia sinensis. No other beverages merit the unqualified term tea.

 An expert judge of the beverage. A person who uses organoleptic means to discern various characteristics and qualities of tea.

 The leaf bud of the Camellia sinensis plant.

 Describes tea liquor having substance, but not necessarily strength.

 Tea liquor which lacks thickness or strength.

 A term which describes an herbal infusion.

 A tea which has been slightly overfired during processing. It may be a desirable characteristic in some Darjeeling teas.

 Describes a soft, unpleasant characteristic, which is occasionally evident in the liquors of teas processed during very wet weather.

 Teas which have a thin liquor.

 A tea leaf which is tightly rolled or twisted, indicative of good withering.

 Another term which means well twisted.

 A characteristic reminiscent of freshly-cut timber. This trait is usually associated with teas processed very late in the season.