A side-by-side tea tasting in wine glasses

My tea journey is about the journey itself, not the destination. I don’t know where I’m going exactly but I know that every cup of tea, whether shared with someone or enjoyed alone, every encounter and conversation over tea, each and every tasting note and photograph I take are worth my undivided attention. Creative process and pleasure are more valuable than overanalyzing and perfectionism. In order to feel good, I have to take action, creative action, and tea is the Thing that fuels it.

So here I am, amplifying my sensory experience of tea by drinking tea, two teas, side by side, in wine glasses. Pure bliss. My senses are alert, my mind is not scattered, I’m here now and I don’t wish to be anywhere else at any other point in time.

A side-by-side tea tasting in wine glasses - The Tea Squirrel

The idea of using wine glasses for tea tasting is somewhat novel to me. I normally would opt for a small tea cup but I was stuck with these two teas, two yancha rock oolongs from the Old Ways Tea Club, same cultivar, same garden, different harvest years. Then I remembered seeing my friend, fine dining chef and fellow tea lover Christian Nicita, use wine glasses with a gongfu cha setup and that’s what inspired me to try it out.

I brewed the teas in a gaiwan, decanted the liquor in a fairness pitcher and then poured it into wine glasses.

‘The biggest difference is in the first three steeps, the wine glass really brings out those scent and aroma notes which wouldn’t be so prominent when tasting tea from a cup. After steep number three, on average, there is not much difference between the two vessels but the first three steeps in a wine glass are dramatically different,’ explains Christian.

The shape of a wine glass is designed to swirl wine to release volatile compounds

‘and creates a vortex in the centre of the glass towards which these compounds are drawn. When the drinker then puts their nose in the glass after the swirl, they sniff in a concentrated amount of the aromas directly out of the glass. This allows for even the most nuanced of aromas to be detected.’ (The Science Behind Wine Glass Shapes)

I have to admit, though, I was slightly hesitant at first. I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of sipping hot liquid out of a wine glass, but after trying it out, I realized how much of a difference it made in my perception of tasting notes and greatly enhanced the experience.

My tasting notes

Tea name: Jin Xuan (milk oolong cultivar developed in Taiwan, grown and processed in the Wuyi mountains, Fujian province, as a rock oolong)
Tea type: oolong
Harvest: spring 2021
Brew method: gaiwan (multiple short steeps, 4 gr tea / 150 ml water at 212 F or 100 C)

Dry leaf appearance: dark gray / dark brown long leaves loosely twisted lengthwise, some hints of rust color, one stem

Dry leaf aroma: woodsy but fruity (guava) and toasty in warmed up gaiwan

Wet leaf appearance: dark brown

Wet leaf aroma: sweet, notes of camphor, woodsy

Taste: mineral-forward, mouth-watering, woodsy, some toasty notes in later infusions. Medium body. Floral, mineral, clean aftertaste.

Overall score: 7/10

Tea name: Jin Xuan (milk oolong cultivar developed in Taiwan, grown and processed in the Wuyi mountains, Fujian province, as a rock oolong)
Tea type: oolong
Harvest: spring 2022
Brew method: gaiwan (multiple short steeps, 4 gr tea / 150 ml water at 212 F or 100 C)

Dry leaf appearance: dark gray / dark brown long leaves loosely twisted lengthwise, some hints of rust color, one stem. Leave are smaller than 2021 harvest and have some hints of green

Dry leaf aroma: floral. In warmed up gaiwan, sweet like stewed apricots, floral with hints of orchid, jasmine, frangipani and honeysuckle, sweet, honey-like notes

Wet leaf appearance: dark green / dark brown with rust color hues

Wet leaf aroma: sweet, fresh and fruity, notes of honeysuckle on gaiwan lid, buttery notes from tea liquor in the 3rd and 4th infusion

Taste: floral, honeysuckle notes, sweet and toasty. Full body. Floral, mineral aftertaste.

Overall score: 8.5/10 (more balanced and more complex than 2021 harvest)