The Many Faces of Tea

The world of tea can be a maze of terminology and confusion for many. In our search for classification and order, we run the risk of putting off would-be devotees who are afraid of perpetrating some sort of etiquette error. I worry that, as fine and rare tea spills into the mainstream, an emperor’s new clothes mystique is developing around the product that could ultimately act to dissuade the young enthusiasts the industry needs. So, here follows a terminology-free introduction to the world of tea — may it educate and inspire a search for great tea.