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Tea: Make White Licorice Tea The Star Of Your Tea TastingCopyright © 2007-2008 Marcus StoutMany people have loved the idea of hosting a tea tasting, but felt unsure as to how to go about doing so. Well, if you'd like to host a tea tasting for a few friends, it's not all that difficult. It's true that tea masters in Asia spend years studying teas and tasting them. And, it's certainly true that your sense of smell and palate will not be as trained as these masters to the many nuances in aroma and taste of the teas. However, you can enjoy tea tasting even if you're not an expert. Professional tea tasters have an array of special equipment, but for hosting your own tea tasting at home, you'll do just fine with about three teapots, enough cups and spoons for you and your guests and a timer. Most experts recommend that you have just one variety of tea at a tasting. Since the differences in the tastes of different types of can be so significant, it's harder to sort out the nuances if you taste, for example, black, white and green teas in one tasting. For the purposes of this discussion, we'll focus on a tasting of white teas, since these are the teas that are most likely newest to you and your friends. Experts also recommend that you taste just three teas at one tasting, to allow you to really focus on the differences without becoming overwhelmed. For a white tea tasting, it's wise to choose one white tea that's a "Silver Needles" variety, which is considered the best grade of white tea. Next, you might choose a "White Peony" variety; another fine white tea choice. Finally, select a flavored white tea. I recommend white licorice tea for your flavored variety. Taste the plain teas before the flavored tea. To prepare your teas, put enough water on the stove to fill your three teapots. Warm your teapots by adding hot water to them. Bring the water on the stove to a boil and then remove it from the heat for a couple of minutes. White tea should be brewed with water that is somewhere between 170 and 185° F. By bringing the water to a boil and then letting it sit for one or two minutes, you should ensure just the right temperature for white tea. While the water is cooling, remove the hot tap water from your teapot and add the white tea leaves. White tea is less dense and compact than black and green tea, so you'll need to use more. Begin with two teaspoons per cup as a starting point, adjusting to your taste. Be certain to keep track of which tea is in each pot, so you know which you taste. White tea should be steeped for about 5-8 minutes, depending upon your taste. It will be paler than black or green teas. Don't add sweetener, milk or lemon to your tea. Tea tasting is all about experiencing tea for its own merits. Tea tasting is about using your sight, smell and taste. Look at the tea leaves before they are brewed, and then at the color of the liquid after the tea is brewed. You'll notice many variations in the colors even when tasting similar teas. Next, take in the aroma. To do this, leave the lid on the teapot and pour out a cup of tea. Now, shake the teapot, and then lift the lid and inhale the aroma from the teapot it will be much more distinct than that from your cup, because the leaves are still in the pot. As you become more experienced, you'll be able to see similarities and differences in the aromas. Next, taste the tea. As you taste, give thought to the initial taste, just as the tea hits your tongue, the taste as the tea lingers in your mouth and the aftertaste once you've swallowed the tea or spit it out. Swirl the tea around your mouth so that it coats the entire inside. Think about words you can use to describe the taste as well as the taste in your mouth after the tea is gone. Discuss the flavors and aromas with your guests, to see if you agree on the tastes and smells in the teas. As you taste these white teas, you'll find that all white teas have a very delicate aroma and a pale golden color. You'll likely also notice a hint of smokiness in white teas; take note of which of the three have the smokiest flavor. Compare the level of sweetness and if you taste a particular fruit, particularly in the plain white teas. When you taste the white licorice tea (last of the three), you'll likely notice a very distinct difference. The white licorice tea will still have a bit of smokiness found in the other white teas. However, you'll note an extra sweetness and a flavor that's a bit bolder than the other white teas. This additional flavor is mostly derived from the star anise that provides the licorice flavor in the tea. Licorice gives the white tea a distinct flavor that is not only different from the unflavored white teas, but that is also different from other flavored white teas. You're likely to find that it's your favorite, particularly if you like a bolder tea. At the end of your tea tasting, ask your guests to rate the teas, and give feedback on the tasting as a whole. It's likely that you've had a great deal of fun and learned a bit about your personal tastes in teas. You may find that you want to begin having tea tastings regularly, choosing different tea varieties and flavors at each tasting. Tea tastings are a wonderful way to expand your knowledge about tea and a great excuse for an afternoon with your friends. It's certain that after one tea tasting, you'll become a big fan of delicious white teas like White licorice. About The Author:
*** Digital Reprint Rights *** *** Author Notification *** We ask that you notify the author of publication of his or her work. Marcus Stout can be reached at: Marcus.Stout@GoldenMoonTea.com *** Print Publication Reprint Rights *** If you desire to publish this article in a PRINT publication, you must contact the author directly for Print Permission at: Marcus.Stout@GoldenMoonTea.com
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