Tea Culture Vocabulary

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Date:

Instructions: Steep yourself in the vocabulary of tea culture, from Japanese matcha to British afternoon tea

1.
What does 'matcha' mean in Japanese?
A
Green leaf
B
Ground tea — finely powdered green tea used in Japanese tea ceremonies
C
Bitter drink
D
Strong tea
2.
In tea terminology, what does 'steeping' refer to?
A
Drying tea leaves
B
Growing tea plants
C
Soaking tea leaves in hot water to extract flavor, color, and nutrients
D
Grinding tea into powder
3.
What is 'oolong' tea?
A
A tea served only cold
B
A Japanese tea variety
C
A type of herbal tea
D
A partially oxidized tea that falls between green and black tea in processing
4.
In tea culture, what is 'gongfu' (or 'kung fu') tea preparation?
A
A Chinese tea brewing method using small pots, multiple short infusions, and a high leaf-to-water ratio
B
A tea made from special fighting monks
C
A very strong black tea
D
Tea served with martial arts
5.
What does 'chai' literally mean?
A
Herbal brew
B
Tea — the word for tea in many languages, often referring to spiced milk tea in the West
C
Indian drink
D
Spiced milk
6.
In tea terminology, what does 'oxidation' refer to?
A
The chemical process where tea leaves are exposed to air, darkening them and developing flavor
B
Tea going stale
C
A defect in tea production
D
Adding oxygen to tea
7.
What is 'tisane' in the world of tea?
A
An herbal infusion made from plants other than the tea plant, such as chamomile or mint
B
A type of Chinese tea
C
A tea brand
D
A tea-flavored dessert
8.
In British tea culture, what is 'afternoon tea'?
A
A light meal served mid-afternoon with tea, finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries
B
A tea break at work
C
Any tea drunk after noon
D
A strong evening tea
9.
What does 'pu-erh' refer to in tea?
A
A cheap tea variety
B
A fermented and aged Chinese tea from Yunnan province that improves with age
C
A floral tea blend
D
A powdered tea
10.
In tea terminology, what is a 'gaiwan'?
A
A type of teapot
B
A tea plantation
C
A Chinese lidded bowl used for steeping and drinking tea
D
A tea strainer
11.
What is 'rooibos' tea?
A
A type of green tea
B
A caffeine-free herbal tea made from a South African shrub with a sweet, nutty flavor
C
A Russian tea blend
D
A tea made from rose petals
12.
In Japanese tea culture, what is 'chanoyu'?
A
The Japanese tea ceremony, a choreographed ritual of preparing and serving matcha
B
A type of snack served with tea
C
A special tea cup
D
A tea garden
13.
What does 'first flush' mean in tea production?
A
A quick infusion
B
The first cup of tea brewed
C
The first harvest of tea leaves in spring, often considered the most delicate and prized
D
Rinsing the teapot
14.
In tea terminology, what is 'bergamot' associated with?
A
A British tea brand
B
The citrus oil used to flavor Earl Grey tea
C
A type of teapot
D
A tea-growing region
15.
What is 'samovar' in tea culture?
A
A tea ceremony
B
A type of tea leaf
C
A type of teacup
D
A traditional Russian heated metal container used to heat and boil water for tea

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