At Ekön Tea, we immerse ourselves in the realm of tea, delving into its rich history and intricate flavors to create blends suited for the contemporary American palate. Today, we embark on a quest to comprehend the subtle nuances between tea tasting and tea cupping, unraveling the distinct approaches that enrich the enjoyment of a perfect cup of tea.
Tea tasting and tea cupping are both revered practices, offering pathways to unravel the complexities of tea. Yet, they employ unique techniques and objectives, each contributing to a deeper appreciation of this cherished beverage.
Tea tasting, reminiscent of savoring fine wines, engages the senses of taste, aroma, and even sight. With each sip, we discern the tea's flavor profile, noting subtle variations in taste, fragrance, and texture. At Ekön Tea, our meticulous tea tasting sessions, led by our team of experts, ensure that each blend meets our exacting standards of quality.
The tea cupping technique, however, transcends mere tasting; it's a standardized method used to evaluate the sensory attributes of tea, so is the process in which a trained taster determines the quality of a particular tea. Due to climatic conditions, topography, manufacturing process, and different cultivars of the Camellia Sinensia plant (tea), the final product may have vastly differing flavours and appearance. A trained tester can detect these differences and ascertain the tea's quality prior to sale or possible blending.
This approach involves six key steps:
- Identifying the type of tea: We begin by categorizing the tea based on its type, whether it's green, black, oolong, white, or pu-erh.
- Examining the dry leaves: This step involves assessing the aroma, visual appearance, and sound analysis of the dry tea leaves, providing insights into their quality and freshness.
- Making the tea infusion: Using precise measurements and water temperature, we brew the tea according to specific parameters to extract its full flavor potential.
- Balancing the liquor: Once brewed, we evaluate the color, clarity, and brightness of the tea liquor, ensuring that it meets our standards of excellence.
- Examining the wet leaves and the liquor: We inspect the wet leaves to assess their appearance, aroma, and texture, while also re-evaluating the liquor for any changes in flavor profile.
- Terminology and tea cupping sheet: Throughout the process, we utilize specialized terminology to describe the sensory attributes of the tea, recording our observations on a tea cupping sheet for future reference and analysis.
Both tea tasting and tea cupping are integral to our mission of crafting exceptional tea blends for the discerning American palate. By refining our expertise in these techniques and terminology, we curate a diverse array of teas suited to various tastes and occasions.
As novices our challenge is to convey what we find in the cup, while expert tasters work towards grading each cup against what they already know should or should not be present.
A tea tasting is a good place to share your love of tea with friends and family who might be new to the world of tea. It won’t replace tea cupping, which is an important part of the business of tea, but as you can see there is a time and a place for both.
At Ekön Tea, we extend an invitation to join us on this journey of exploration as we delve into the art of tea appreciation. Whether you're an experienced enthusiast or just beginning your tea voyage, we're dedicated to sharing our passion for tea and enhancing your tea-drinking experience, one cup at a time.
