Tea Glossary: An A to Z of Tea Terminology and Words to Describe Tea
A tea glossary explains the words tea makers, tasters and labels use: where a tea grew, how it was made and how it tastes.
Tea Terms A to C: From Astringent and Amber to Creaming Down and CTC
Each term below gets a one- or two-line meaning; a link means a Tea 101 guide covers it in full.
Tea Terms D to M: From Dry Leaf and Flush to Malty and Muscatel
Each term below gets a one- or two-line meaning; a link means a Tea 101 guide covers it in full.
Tea Terms N to Z: From Notes and Orthodox to Tippy and Woody
Each term below gets a one- or two-line meaning; a link means a Tea 101 guide covers it in full.
Tea FAQs: Does Tea Expire, Do Tea Bags Go Stale and How to Make Loose Leaf Tea
Tea does not expire the way fresh food does, but it does go stale: loose leaf tea and tea bags slowly lose aroma and flavor, so most tea tastes best within about a year, kept airtight, dark, cool a...
Tea Brewing Questions: Water Temperature, Steeping Time, Bitterness and How Much Leaf to Use
Delicate teas need cooler water; strong black teas need it hot. Most brewing problems come down to the same four things: the water, its temperature, the steeping time and how much leaf goes in.
Does Tea Go Stale? Shelf Life, Pack Dates, Tea Bags and How to Store Tea
Tea has no hard expiry date, but it is an agricultural product and it goes stale. The longer it sits, the more aroma and flavor it loses, until the cup tastes flat.