3 Ways to Enjoy Good Tea
Today, I’m deviating from my usual tea review pattern to walk you through the steps that I take to determine what a “good” tea looks like, three ways I enjoy the teas I write about. Truth is, there isn’t a wrong way to enjoy tea, preferences depend on a number of variables for each person: mood, availability, time of day.... I enjoy a strong cup of flavored tea, black and Pu erh teas tend to please my palate more than green or herbal flavored teas. That said, there are certain things that I look for when searching for a tea to try.
Let’s start with finding a “good” tea - search criteria:
Something to Talk About: I enjoy trying new and unusual teas, I like to stand out and go against the norm and I look for teas that mirror this aspect of my personality. I look for unique teas, something that isn’t common or easy to come by. That said, I do gravitate towards the flavored black or Pu erh teas these days but I do check out green, oolong and herbal teas just in case there is something interesting that piques my interest. For example, I tried a Magnolia Oolong tea from Maya Tea Company several months ago. Rule of thumb, if it sounds good, I’ll brew it!
Now, let's move onto the tea “test” - how does is measure up?:
Trust Your Nose: If the tea smells good, odds are good that it will taste good too. I have experienced exceptions to this rule on several occasions, but generally speaking, you can tell a good tea by how pleasing the scent is. Scent and taste are so closely aligned, the first impression of any tea is going to be how well it treats your sense of smell. You’ll notice in all of my reviews, I start with the aroma of the tea - it’s how I greet my tea before brewing it. I recently tried a Banana Bliss Tea by Steepologie Teas and it smelled like a bag of ripe bananas - sweet and aromatic.
And now onto the grand finale, does the tea live up to the name/nose tests - does it taste good?
Taster's Choice: The final test of any tea is how good it tastes. If I like the taste of the tea, it’s a score. That said, it doesn’t necessarily need to taste the same way it smells. I try to keep an open mind and palate in this area. My only criteria for this test is that I enjoy the flavor and it is pleasing to my palate. Last February, I wrote a review about Voodoo Tea by Culinary Teas. This tea smelled good BUT it tasted very different from how it smelled and the taste was fantastic. I was pleasantly surprised but this is the exception and not the rule. In the end, if I like the taste, regardless of name or smell, I consider it a “good tea” and I enjoy it.
So, there you have it, three ways to find and enjoy good tea. Remember, finding a good tea is all about taking risks and stepping out of one’s comfort zone to broaden our brewing horizons.
May your tea cups always be full and your palates pleasantly surprised.
Happy Tea Wishes to you,
Fairy Teamother