I've noticed that I enjoy tea (at least black tea ) much more when it is served in a traditional western style tea cup with a very wide bowl.
My theory is more of the surface is exposed, giving my nose more of a chance to smell it.
Have any tea experts written about the shapes of teacups in regards to the taste experience?
Re: Does the shape of the cup matter?
yeah, I do think the surface area has a bit of an impact. For example, I only drink pu-erh in wide shallow cups and I think it tastes AWFUL in anything else. I don't feel like any other tea has such severe consequences in the wrong cup but I do have cups of varying height, width, size and thickness depending on the tea I'm having
Re: Does the shape of the cup matter?
Yes indeed! The shape, material, wall thickness, and even the age can all make very noticeable differences. Speaking in generalities, I find thinner porcelain walls can help highlight more delicate flavors, and thicker walls can help highlight mouth feel. The wider the cup, and the smaller the cup, the more it helps the tea cool down quickly as well.
Try having tea in a wine glass or brandy snifter as an experiment. It will give you a whole new experience.
Try having tea in a wine glass or brandy snifter as an experiment. It will give you a whole new experience.
Re: Does the shape of the cup matter?
Oh absolutely. One of my favorite tea cups is a glencairn scotch-tasting glassTry having tea in a wine glass or brandy snifter as an experiment. It will give you a whole new experience.
Re: Does the shape of the cup matter?
Shape also influences simple things: Bell-shaped cups for example make it very difficult to get the last sip! Very annoying! Some cups are designed to retain tiny bits of certain teas and keep them from being drunk.
May 26th, '15, 04:43
Posts: 760
Joined: Aug 1st, '12, 08:20
Location: not anymore Bangkok, not really arrived in Germany
Re: Does the shape of the cup matter?
Shape of the cup absolutely matters. Also and especially the inner curves and lip of a cup determines the area of the mouth where the main impact of the taste happens - which ideally is in a upwards move starting from deep in the tongue area. Not so good cups begin more towards the front of the tongue, which misses out a lot of depth of taste.
I hope this sounds somewhat comprehensible.
I hope this sounds somewhat comprehensible.
Re: Does the shape of the cup matter?
Some people make claims about certain shapes being better for fragrant teas, concentrating the fragrance more, etc. There may be some truth to it, but overall, I think size has somewhat more of an effect vs shape, and there's times where I wonder if the "different shaped cups for different teas" thing is kind of like the special wine glasses for different types of wine scam.
I do prefer small-ish cups (15-45 ml or so) for careful tasting most of the time.
I do prefer small-ish cups (15-45 ml or so) for careful tasting most of the time.
Re: Does the shape of the cup matter?
absolutely matters.
in summary
1) big cup holds heat for longer, small cup cool faster.
2) there is optimum temp for tea to be sipped, too hot, tongue gets scalded, if tea is too hot, cup lip is 90 degrees vertical, need to suck the brew upwards and this creates more aeration in CZ gf style
3) tongue can experience thermal gradient. this is reflected as texture. many always think tongue is taste, chemo receptor for only bitter, sweet, sour, salty etc. it can feel hot, cold, round, sharp. i'm sure one's tongue can tell the difference between a spiky spider on your tongue versus a round gobstopper.
4) cups create these.
5) effect on retro olfaction. thin sips on cups with thin edge that are angled, allows tea quickly smear tongue on thin layer. thick wall cups with round thick edges allow more tea to "roll into mouth". we perceive tea complexity from olfaction, not taste. taste is just sweet, sour, salty, bitter, a degree of how much and how many types of "taste". flowers, fruits, vegetal notes and all that is because of your nose. and because the nose perceive 2 ways, one is the tea smell that flies into your hairy nostrils into the olfactory areas. the other is air sucked in the mouth, or air that is displaced when swallowing, if exhaled through the nose (consciously 100%? or partially, i.e exhale 50% through nose 50% through mouth), that is where we pickup the other profiles and lingering scents.
in summary
1) big cup holds heat for longer, small cup cool faster.
2) there is optimum temp for tea to be sipped, too hot, tongue gets scalded, if tea is too hot, cup lip is 90 degrees vertical, need to suck the brew upwards and this creates more aeration in CZ gf style
3) tongue can experience thermal gradient. this is reflected as texture. many always think tongue is taste, chemo receptor for only bitter, sweet, sour, salty etc. it can feel hot, cold, round, sharp. i'm sure one's tongue can tell the difference between a spiky spider on your tongue versus a round gobstopper.
4) cups create these.
5) effect on retro olfaction. thin sips on cups with thin edge that are angled, allows tea quickly smear tongue on thin layer. thick wall cups with round thick edges allow more tea to "roll into mouth". we perceive tea complexity from olfaction, not taste. taste is just sweet, sour, salty, bitter, a degree of how much and how many types of "taste". flowers, fruits, vegetal notes and all that is because of your nose. and because the nose perceive 2 ways, one is the tea smell that flies into your hairy nostrils into the olfactory areas. the other is air sucked in the mouth, or air that is displaced when swallowing, if exhaled through the nose (consciously 100%? or partially, i.e exhale 50% through nose 50% through mouth), that is where we pickup the other profiles and lingering scents.
May 26th, '15, 23:04
Posts: 760
Joined: Aug 1st, '12, 08:20
Location: not anymore Bangkok, not really arrived in Germany
Re: Does the shape of the cup matter?
wyardley wrote:Some people make claims about certain shapes being better for fragrant teas, concentrating the fragrance more, etc. There may be some truth to it, but overall, I think size has somewhat more of an effect vs shape, and there's times where I wonder if the "different shaped cups for different teas" thing is kind of like the special wine glasses for different types of wine scam.
I do prefer small-ish cups (15-45 ml or so) for careful tasting most of the time.
Shapes matter, but you have to go into the mechanics of tasting. Simple experiment - have several cups of different shape, use them with the same brew. Concentrate how the taste develops with each different cup. Where on the tongue does the tea begin to taste? More towards the tip, or more towards the middle or back? How does the taste develop? Does it develop in a more explosive upward motion, or does it stay rather flat on the tongue? Is it a round mouth filling development, or is it thin?
