The MountTea Journal
Your First Side-by-Side Tea Tasting
Organise a two-tea tasting with matched vessels, measured recipes and useful notes. Compare roast, origin or processing without wasting leaf.
A side-by-side tasting makes differences easier to notice than drinking two teas a week apart. Start with two teas and one clear question. More cups create more variables, more caffeine and more washing without necessarily creating a better lesson.
Choose the question
Try two Yunnan red teas, a light and a roasted oolong, or two white teas with different ages. A comparison within one family is easier to interpret than a delicate green tea beside a dark shu pu-erh. If you choose a large contrast, acknowledge that the brewing recipes will also differ.
Prepare the equipment
Use two similar brewing vessels, a scale, a timer, clean cups and one water supply. Label cups A and B. If you have only one gaiwan, brew the teas sequentially, rinse thoroughly and use covered cups so the first does not cool dramatically before comparison. Simultaneous brewing is convenient, not compulsory.
Match the meaningful variables
For closely related teas, use the same dry-leaf weight and working water volume. Keep water temperature and contact time consistent. If one tea needs a different recipe, record it rather than pretending the comparison is fully controlled. Do not use spoon volume to match a rolled leaf against an airy loose leaf.
A practical sequence
- Look at and smell the dry leaves without assigning a winner.
- Brew both using recorded recipes and drain fully.
- Alternate small sips at a comfortable temperature.
- Write three observations: aroma, body and finish.
- Compare a second and third infusion if using gongfu.
- Reveal names and prices after writing your preferences if tasting blind.
Use a compact score sheet
| Feature | Tea A | Tea B |
|---|---|---|
| Aroma direction | Floral, fruity, toasted, other | Floral, fruity, toasted, other |
| Body | Light / medium / full | Light / medium / full |
| Finish | Sweet, drying, short, lingering | Sweet, drying, short, lingering |
| Would I brew it again? | Why? | Why? |
Turn the result into a better next order
Keep the tea you preferred as your reference and choose one new comparison. If a more expensive tea did not win, you have still learned something useful. Repeat the session another day before making a large purchase; recipe errors, food and expectations can change your impression.
Taste small amounts, take breaks and remember that repeated infusions contribute to your caffeine intake. The objective is a clearer preference, not finishing every drop on the table.
