The Tin Roof Guide to Tea Jargon

June 8, 2017

The Tin Roof Guide to Tea Jargon – “Jargon” refers to certain words or expressions that are generally only understood by a small group with a specialized interest. Because the world of tea is so varied and complex, tea hobbyists have a tendency to rely on jargon when discussing tea. This can be a bit overwhelming, which is why we’ve prepared a list of some of the most common tea terms for your reference! Here are some of the terms we encounter most often:

Steep: To extract flavor by soaking in water.

Infuse: To extract flavor or health benefits (such as antioxidants) by soaking in water.

Flush: A grouping of tea leaves that are ready to be plucked.
– First Flush: The first harvesting of the tea leaves and buds, often said to produce the freshest and purest tea.
– Second Flush: A second harvesting that results in larger leaves with robust flavor.
– Monsoon Flush: The harvesting period for most commercial teas.
– Autumnal Flush: The last harvesting before winter.

Broken: Tea leaves that have been broken down into smaller pieces. A desired trait of certain tea blends.

Golden: Tea with light or orange-colored tips. Indicates good quality leaves.

CTC: Cut-Tear-Curl. A method of producing broken tea leaves.
Orange Pekoe: A very high grade of tea harvested from young leaves.

Fannings: Very small pieces of tea, usually a byproduct of processing larger leaves.

Dust: Very small grains of tea that are often found in bagged teas. Smaller than fannings.

Aroma: Usually refers to flavored teas. Can refer to the characteristic smell of any tea.

Body: The robustness of the tea’s flavor.

Malty: Usually refers to a tea that leaves a pleasant aftertaste.

Tisanes: Herbal or fruit infusions that are not blended with tea leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant.

Astringency: A bitter flavor usually resulting from brewing tea incorrectly. It is sometimes a flavor that is intentionally achieved.

Tannin: A compound found in some organic plant-life and in teas. Can contribute to astringent flavors.

At Tin Roof Teas we think tea should be accessible to everyone. While jargon can be intimidating at first, getting to know your favorite teas on such an intimate level is a lot fun. Plus, it can lead you to discover new favorites! We’re here to help you with any questions you might have, so come in and talk tea with us!