Tea Taster's Glossery It is important to develop a standardized language in order to communicate internationally about the quality and consistency of tea. This need has over many years led to the development of a specialized language, to which we would like to introduce you in the following: Terms describing the infused leaf Bright The infused leaf is bright coppery in colour. The liquors from such teas are usually bright. Coppery Describes leaf of a bright copper colour. It denotes a goot tea with a lower degree of tannin content. Dull Dark brown or dark green infused leaf is described as dull. The liquors of such teas are also dull. It denotes a poor tea. Even This term is usually combined with “bright” or “copper”; no unevenness in the colour of the infused leaf. Green Green or greenish infused leaf denotes underwithering, underfermentation or insufficient rolling. Generally unwanten but typical for first flush. Mixed/uneven The infused leaf shows a mixture in bright, dull, and green pieces.   Terms descriping appearance of made tea Acceptable A tea that can be bought despite of a mistake. Attractive Well done. Uniform in colour and leaf size. Black Denotes teas with good black appearance. A favourable charakter when teas with good appearance are in demand. Blackdish Used for CTC-Teas, mainly during the first flush period. Blistered Refers to teas having a bloated appearance or small blisters caused by high temperatures and/or rapid firing. Bloom Gleam, denotes freshness and a good producining. Bold As applied to leaf grades shows that the grade is large with an element of coarseness. It indicates that the pieces of leaf are rather big and would be preferable if made smaller. Brown This is self-explanatory. It denotes leaf which has a brownish appearance. Case-heardened Hardness of the leaf caused due to a to fast drying. These teas are not very perishable. Chesty A blemish due to the use of undeposited wood for the tea-chests. Chunky Normal throw-in of big tips, desirable. Clean Refers to the leaf which has been properly cleaned and which is free from dust, fannings, fibre or flaky and open leaf or stalk. Cut This term indicates excessive use of a tea cutter and refers to leaf broken up in cutters with blunt blades, defective cells, or to leaf cut up too many times. Even A desirable charakter which refers to leaf which is of even size and true to its grade. Fibre Shows improperly cleaned leaf showing presence of fibre Flaky Leaf which is not twisted, but in flakes. Denotes open leaf in the form of flakes which has not been properly twisted. Grainy This term is used to describe well made Fannings and Dusts which are grainy to the touch. Grey Refers to teas which are grey (not black) in colour. This character results from excessive use of cutters, excessive rubbing or abrasive action in sifters having sagging meshes, and also from too much handling generally. Gritty Denotes presence of grit. This is noticed by gently blowing the tea in the palm of one’s hand. Large Describes the leaf-size, too big sizes are not demanded on the market. Leafy This term describes broken grades composed of rather large or “bold” leaf. Make Kind of manufacturing, look of tea. Mixed Refers to leaf of different grades and sizes which have been bulked together. Neat Well made teas with even leaf size. Nose Indicated some aroma on the dry leaf. Open Describes flaky leaf. Tippy This term describes teas with a good show of golden tips. A very desirable characteristic. The fine hairs on the young leaf and buds get smeared with the fermented sap of the leaf and show off as a tip. Well twisted Well withered and correctly rolled leaf gives twisted or well twisted tea.   Term describing the liquors Autumnal A seasonal description used for teas of this harvesting period. Autumnals have different kinds flavour. Bakey A slightly high fired tea. Body The cup contains fullness and strength. Bright Denotes a bright and clear colour. Brisk This term is rather difficult to define but refers to correctly fired teas the liquors of which are live in character as opposed to flat. Barm Generally usable for darjeeling teas, denotes a “fully fired” cup. Burnt Refers to liquors from overfired teas. Unwanted. Character A very desirable quality which also permits the recognization of the tea garden. Coarse Refers to teas made from coarse leaf generally. A liquor of some body but with lack of quality. Colour Denotes good colour but not necessarily a good tea. The term must be considered in conjunction with other characteristics. Contamination Tainted. A foreign taste in the tea due to contact or proximity to a strong smelling substance such as oil, spices, chemicals, bacteria, etc. Creamy This is observed when liquor with strength and body cools. The surface of the liquor then turns Opaque and creamy. Describes teas of good character and quality. Dry Slightly “bakey” or “high-fired”. Dull Brownish liquors which are not clear or bright. May result from over-withering, over-fermentation or incorrect firing. Flat Lacking in briskness and pungency. Generally used to denote a tea that has gone-off. Results from over-withering, over-fermentation or incorrect firing. Fruity Suggests a taint. May be due to over-fermentation on an infected floor. Full Decribes a liquor of good strength and colour which is bitter and which has no coarse character. Fully-fired Slightly over-fired. Gone-off A tea which has lost its fresh character. Denotes a mouldy tainted, flat or old tea. It is the result of packing and storing tea with a moisture content in excess of 6 per cent. Harsh An infusion which is bitter. Light Pale in colour but does not necessarily denote a poor tea. Malty Suggests slight high firing but not over-fired. Used for quality teas well and properly fired. High firing will not produce a malty tea unless this character is originally present in the leaf. Plain A liquor withour any desirable character and without quality. Pungent A liquor which has astringency without bitterness. Smoky Explains itself. A liquor with a smoky taste and smell caused by a dryer fault and defective firing. Taint A tea having a strange flavour. Thick A concentrated, bright red infusion which creams down well. Thin A dilute infusion of little value. Weedy Unwanted grassy aroma.