Tea Blog

Those of us who have been drinking tea for a while sometimes forget that tea remains a mystery to many people. That may be especially true here in the United States, where coffee tends to dominate and tea often receives far less attention than it does in famously tea-loving countries such as the United Kingdom.

I can certainly relate. Just nine years ago, I was one of those people who found tea somewhat mysterious myself.

This thought came to mind recently when I saw a comment on Twitter describing a tea novice’s first encounter with green tea. The individual sounded both surprised and relieved to discover that green tea, as they put it, “is actually not horrible.”

Well, that’s encouraging.

A Beginner’s First Green Tea Experience

The comment reminded me of a few tea-related experiences from my own early days as a tea drinker.

One involved my first serious encounter with green tea. Someone at the office where I worked had a box of what was supposedly green tea. It came in tea bag form, so I brewed a cup and took a sip.

And then another sip.

To say I wasn’t impressed would be putting it mildly.

While I didn’t dramatically spray tea across the room like a sitcom character, the experience wasn’t far off. The tea tasted genuinely unpleasant. Fortunately, I already knew enough about green tea to suspect that the tea itself wasn’t representative of the category. Had that been my very first introduction, it might have discouraged me from exploring green tea further.

As it turned out, better examples were waiting to be discovered.

Learning to Appreciate Quality Tea

Years later, after becoming much better acquainted with tea, I eventually encountered green teas that were anything but horrible. In fact, some were remarkable.

Delicate Japanese green teas, carefully crafted Chinese greens, and high-quality loose-leaf teas introduced flavors and aromas I had never experienced before. Rather than bitterness, they offered sweetness, freshness, vegetal complexity, floral notes, and surprising depth.

The experience taught me that not all teas are created equal. A person’s opinion of tea can be heavily influenced by the particular tea they happen to try first.

A disappointing first cup can create a lasting impression, while an exceptional first cup can spark a lifelong interest.

The Sweetener Incident

Another memorable experience occurred after I had become much more knowledgeable about tea.

I happened to have some particularly fine green tea on hand—one that I considered genuinely outstanding. Naturally, I wanted to share it with someone I knew who had expressed a casual interest in green tea but had very little experience drinking it.

I brewed the tea carefully and offered them a cup.

They took a few sips.

Then they asked for sweetener.

I must confess that I was momentarily stunned.

Confused.

Possibly even a little offended on behalf of the tea.

I did my best not to show it.

Why Tea Tastes Change Over Time

Looking back, however, the request made perfect sense.

It had taken me years to develop an appreciation for the subtle flavors found in high-quality green tea. Expecting someone with very little tea experience to immediately enjoy those same delicate nuances was probably asking too much.

Like many foods and beverages, tea appreciation often develops gradually.

Coffee drinkers rarely appreciate dark roast coffee on their first sip. Wine enthusiasts learn to recognize characteristics that beginners may miss entirely. The same is true of tea.

What initially seems grassy, vegetal, earthy, smoky, or unusual may eventually become part of what makes a particular tea enjoyable.

Experience teaches the palate what to look for.

The Challenge of Introducing New Tea Drinkers to Green Tea

Green tea can be especially challenging for beginners because its most admired qualities are often subtle.

Unlike strongly flavored beverages, many green teas rely on gentle sweetness, fresh vegetal notes, light floral character, and delicate aromas. These qualities can be easy to overlook when someone is accustomed to sweeter or more intensely flavored drinks.

That’s one reason why patience is important when exploring tea.

Not every tea will be a favorite immediately. Sometimes the appreciation comes later.

Bottom Line

The next time a tea novice reacts unexpectedly to a carefully selected tea, it may be worth remembering that most experienced tea drinkers were novices once too.

Today’s request for sugar may become tomorrow’s appreciation for the subtle complexities of a fine green tea.

After all, every tea enthusiast starts somewhere—and sometimes that journey begins with the pleasantly surprised realization that green tea is, in fact, “not horrible.”

See more /author/williamlengeman/”>tea history, tea culture, and commentary articles by William I. Lengeman.

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