3 Tea Tasting Hacks to Sound Like a Pro

Ditch beginner mistakes with these expert tricks:

• Smell in 3 stages: Hot sniff (assess processing), warm sniff (identify variety), cold sniff (check aroma longevity).
• "Legs" ≠ quality: Tea saponins or impurities may cause "sheeting" on cup walls—clear liquor indicates purity.
• Bitterness vs. sweetness: Quick bitterness that transforms into lingering sweetness signals premium tea, not just strong flavor.

Pro move: Use white porcelain cups to accurately judge tea color without glass distortion.