Host a Tea Tasting at Home ft. Teakan’s Jan Chan (PDF Guide)

Introduction: Meet Jan Chan from Teakan

Meet Jan Chan, a tea expert bringing her deep knowledge of tea culture and brewing techniques to help you create memorable experiences at home. Jan serves as the Global Japanese Tea Association representative for Western Canada and is the co-founder and Japanese tea specialist of Teakan, a women-owned tea company based in Vancouver, BC. 

Having trained in Kyoto and spent years in tea education, we invited Jan to share her tasting notes on our Taiwanese oolong tea. While Jan’s specialty is Japanese tea, her refined palate and extensive experience transcend regional boundaries—both Japanese and Taiwanese traditions share deep cultural roots and brewing wisdom, and Jan’s insights provide valuable perspective on the nuanced characteristics of our oolong collection.

In this guide, we'll explore Jan's tea journey, her expert insights on tasting, and practical tips for hosting your own tea tasting session. Whether you're just beginning or you're a seasoned enthusiast, you'll learn how to deepen your appreciation of fine teas through proper brewing and mindful tasting.

Chimney & Tea x Jan Chan Interview: Jan’s Background

In this exclusive interview with Chimney & Tea, Jan Chan shares her inspiring journey from casual tea drinker to certified tea specialist, offering unique insights into the art of tea appreciation and the cultural significance behind different brewing methods. Her story begins with a chance encounter that would change her perspective on tea forever.

1) Can you tell us about your journey into becoming a tea specialist and what sparked your interest in Japanese tea and culture?

2) How did your training in Kyoto shape your understanding and appreciation of tea?

Studying Japanese tea and tea culture in Kyoto made me realize that tea isn't just a delicious drink and that to appreciate tea is to embrace all the different aspects linked to it, such as its history, people, and culture. I believe learning how tea and its peripherals (items related to tea) were made, evolved and became what we know today, whether it's the taste of the tea, a particular shape of the utensil, or the way of drinking it, helps me understand and appreciate tea on a deeper level.

3) Can you share with us any memorable experiences or challenges you faced during your tea education journey?

The most memorable experience is making tea by hand. As a class, we hand-picked tea in the morning and processed the tea leaves into sencha for the rest of the day. Everything was done by hand, from steaming to rolling. The whole process took over 8 hours and it was very labour intensive.

While it was fascinating to see how fresh tea leaves turn into a needle-shaped sencha, we also learned how much care goes into tea cultivation and processing. And while machines can do a lot of the heavy lifting, the passion and knowledge of the tea farmers and producers are irreplaceable.

4) What is one piece of advice you would give to younger generations as a tea connoisseur?

I would love for the younger generations to get to know tea better by trying all kinds of teas at least twice. Sometimes we are offered teas that might not be the best represented which could affect our opinion of them.

For example, many people tell me they dislike green tea because of their bitterness. But not all green teas are bitter, and perhaps, the one they tried wasn't prepared to their liking. Don't write off all green teas because of this. Teas and how they are brewed can be as individual as human beings. At least give them another chance before concluding that this particular tea is not for you.

Jan Chan’s Oolong Tea Tasting ft. Chimney & Tea Trio

Spring Glow Alishan High Mountain Oolong Loose Leaf Tea

Q: Can you walk us through your brewing method for Spring Glow?

A: I used a gaiwan for brewing the Spring Glow. Brewing specs are: 5g of tea, ~100ml water, 95C and 90 seconds. I did a flash rinse before the first steep. Water from the tap because we have soft water in Vancouver. :)

Q: How would you describe the appearance and aroma of this tea?

A: The tea liquor has a yellow-green colour. The leaves have a strong floral aroma, with hints of buttery baked goods. It reminded me of walking into a garden with blooming flowers after the rain during the summer time.

Q: What about the taste and mouthfeel?

A: The tea liquor has notes of floral and vegetal from a hint of squash, like zucchini. I also detected a bit of nuttiness. The viscosity is light to medium and has a nice mouthfeel when hot. It gets lighter as the tea cools. There is just a tiny bit of drying on the tongue but it doesn't make you salivate. There is also a hint of a cooling effect like mint. Taste-wise, I found the vegetal notes to be more prominent.

Q: How does the tea evolve through multiple steepings?

A: The lingering aroma is floral, fresh and green. The floral notes started to disappear after 4 infusions. The later infusion was more like a green tea, with notes of squash and hints of nuttiness like nut butter, not the nuts itself. It reminded me of Chinese mustard greens.

Cottage Retreat Alishan High Mountain Oolong Tea

Q: What's your brewing method for Cottage Retreat?

A: First infusion: tea bag in 200ml water at 98C for 3 minutes using water from the tap. I infused it in a glass beaker and transferred the tea into my mug.

Q: How would you describe the appearance and aroma?

A: The tea liquor has a light golden yellow colour for the first steep and a deeper orangy-yellow colour in the second steep. The primary note I picked up was dry hay or straws. It reminded me of the straw mats we used for picnics and the smell it has when it's been under the sun for the whole day. Very warm and comforting. There was also a hint of floral notes with very mild grassy notes.

Q: What about the taste and mouthfeel?

A: The Cottage Retreat has a similar floral and vegetal note as the Spring Glow but was much more mild in comparison. Notes of toasted grain husks and straw stood out for me more which was a surprise. The texture of the tea is light compared to the Spring Glow which makes it a good sipping tea during the day. It's also dry and made me salivate near the back of my tongue. Very mild [aftertaste] but pleasant floral and toasty notes linger in the mouth.

Q: How does the tea evolve in the second steeping?

A: Second infusion: tea bag in 200ml water at 98C for 4.5 minutes using water from the tap. The colour was darker than the first infusion and the vegetal notes came out more and lingered in the mouth longer. There was no bitterness but the drying sensation came out quicker compared to the first infusion.

Sunset Stroll Alishan High Mountain Oolong Tea

Q: Can you walk us through your brewing method for Sunset Stroll?

A: First infusion: tea bag in 200ml water at 98C for 3 minutes using water from the tap. I infused it in a glass beaker and transferred the tea into my mug.

Q: How would you describe the appearance and aroma of this tea?

A: The colour for the Sunset Stroll first steep was a golden orange colour and stayed similar for 1st and 2nd infusions. The aroma in the beaker and the tea bag reminded me of molasses or caramelized honey. It was warm and sweet, but unlike the sweetness from sugar or baked goods. It's deeper and mellow.

Q: What about the taste and mouthfeel?

A: The tea tasted sweet with notes of honey. I also picked up some roasted soybean flavour. It reminded me of kinako. The texture of the tea is similar to the Cottage Retreat. Smooth, light and barely any astringency or dryness - just a tiny little bit at the back of my tongue. There was a very mild aroma of sweet glutenous rice that lingers in my mouth after.

Q: How does the tea change in the second steeping?

A: Second infusion the deep honey and roasted soybean notes are more prominent.

How to Host Your Own Tea Tasting at Home

Hosting your own tea tasting at home is the perfect way to bond with friends and fellow tea enthusiasts!

Download our FREE guided tea tasting worksheet to discover and document the unique characteristics of each tea. Whether you're hosting a tea tasting for friends or exploring new teas on your own, this worksheet will enhance your appreciation of fine teas.

Guided Tea Tasting Worksheet (Downloadable PDF)

This easy-to-follow PDF includes sections for recording brewing parameters, aroma, taste, and mouthfeel notes, helping you develop your tea tasting skills.

Our PDF worksheet guides you through evaluating key aspects of each tea, including:

• Visual assessment of dry and wet leaves

• Liquor color and clarity observations

• Aroma characteristics at different stages

• Taste profile and mouthfeel notes

• Steeping parameters and brewing notes

Feel free to use it to create your own tea tasting kit at home with your loved ones!

Download Guided Tea Tasting Worksheet Now 

Ingredients & Tools: What You'll Need

• Chimney & Tea Trio: select a minimum of 2 different teas to compare.

• Kettle/vessel for heating water to precise temperatures.

• Timer for tracking steeping duration.

• Tasting cups - ideally identical cups for fair comparison.

• Spoons for removing tea leaves if necessary.

• Fresh water: we recommend spring or mineral water (with a neutral or slightly acidic pH level of 6.5-7).

• Chimney & Tea’s Tea Tasting Worksheet.

Instructions: Basic Tasting Steps

1. Set up your tasting space with all materials ready.
2. Heat water to the recommended temperature for each tea.
3. Measure your tea portions carefully.
4. Steep the tea.
5. Time your steeps precisely.
6. Observe the dry leaves, wet leaves, and liquor color.
7. Log the brewing method, colours, aroma, taste, and mouthfeel at each stage.
8. Taste mindfully, recording your observations.
9. Compare different steeps and different teas.

Remember to cleanse your palate between different teas with plain water or neutral crackers for the best results. 

Host an Oolong Tea Tasting with Chimney & Tea

With our free guided tea tasting worksheet, you’re now ready to discover and share with others the nuanced world of fine oolong tea in your own home. 

As a bonus, don’t forget to check out our article, “What Does Oolong Tea Taste Like?” for a detailed look at all of the unique aromas and tasting notes that this special tea offers. 

Shop Chimney & Tea's curated collection of premium oolong teas and start your tasting adventure today!