Skip to content
  • Blog
    • Learn
    • Sip
    • Connect
    • Travel
  • Beginner’s Guide to Tea
  • Matcha
  • Puerh
  • Tea in NYC
  • Book
  • About Me
  • Blog
    • Learn
    • Sip
    • Connect
    • Travel
  • Beginner’s Guide to Tea
  • Matcha
  • custom-logo
  • Puerh
  • Tea in NYC
  • Book
  • About Me
10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Drinking Tea
Learn

10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Drinking Tea

May 24, 2021October 6, 2021 4 comments

There are definitely some things I wish I knew when I first started pursuing tea as a hobby and career more than a decade ago. As the saying goes, Hindsight is 20/20. I hope that these tips will be helpful whether you are a seasoned tea head or just starting on your journey.

1. Don’t be intimidated.

The world of tea is massive, and I was definitely intimidated by that when I first started. It took me a few years to figure out that it’s all part of the journey. No one is born knowing everything there is to know about tea. You are on your own unique path, and the experiences along the way are all part of the fun.

2. Have fun with it.

It’s easy to get so wrapped up in all of the little scientific details like weighing leaves and measuring milliliters of water. The truth is that tea doesn’t need to be so serious, especially when it’s not for a review. There is no such thing as a right or wrong way to make tea. Get messy, experiment, and have fun!

3. There’s so much out there!

When I first got started, I had no idea how endless the number of tea varieties really is. Would you believe that I’ve written over 900 tea reviews without repeats? Sometimes I wish that I had started digging deeper sooner for that reason, but it’s also exciting to know that there will always be something new to explore.

4. Don’t be afraid to try things outside of your comfort zone.

As a lifelong picky eater, I spent many years staying inside of my comfort zone. Some of the teas that I avoided at the beginning are now my favorites. Where has puerh been all of my life? If you try a tea that wasn’t your thing, make it a point to circle back and try it again in the future. Brewing it differently can make all the difference. Your tastes also will change over time.

5. Skip the sketchy bargain tea (and teaware).

We’ve all been there. I wasted a ton of money on terrible tea from grocery stores and cheap eBay teaware. Deals are great when you can find them, but sometimes you get what you pay for. This part can be challenging when you first get started because you don’t know where to find the good stuff yet. Forums like Reddit and TeaForum are all good places to get recommendations

The longer I drink tea, the more selective I’ve become with the teaware I purchase.

6. Meet other people as nerdy about tea as you are.

I was already a few years into blogging before I met anyone in person who liked tea as much as I did. If it weren’t for the internet and social media, I would have been one lonely tea drinker. Thankfully the online tea community has grown tremendously since then. Joining forums, posting on Instagram, and attending online courses and events are great ways to meet and interact with fellow tea lovers worldwide.

7. Travel while you can.

Travel would have been a lot easier back when things were less complicated. I wouldn’t change my life for anything, but I definitely should have made it a priority to do some tea traveling. The coronavirus pandemic really highlighted this regret for me because travel isn’t possible at all right now. I am making it a point to save up and begin planning a trip to Japan ASAP. The Northwest Tea Festival is also on my wishlist.

8. A variable temperature tea kettle makes all the difference.

I relied on my mom’s stovetop kettle and a thermometer when I first got into tea. Variable temperature kettles were just coming onto the market at the time, and they didn’t seem necessary. I’m here to tell you that I could not have been more wrong. Electic kettles are faster, much more accurate, and they have made my life so much easier. The model you purchase does not have to be a fancy one but I definitely recommend investing in a variable temperature kettle. That being said, I do enjoy that my kettle has a secret video game.

9. Really good tea is > stuff.

Every new hobbyist goes through an accumulation stage. It’s an exciting time, and you want to buy all of the things! I wish that I had been much more thoughtful about the tea things that I purchased initially. I had no idea what I was doing, and those choices definitely reflected that. I’ve given away or sold many of my first tea acquisitions because they were impractical or no longer suit how I prefer to make my tea now. That money would have been so much better spent on some really good tea.

10. Don’t be afraid to share your passion, no matter what anyone else says.

There was a time when I was a bit embarrassed by my passion for tea. Part of that stemmed from the misguided criticism of negative people who are no longer in my life. Now I wear my tea geek badge loud and proud. My family and friends don’t quite understand it, but they are still super supportive and encouraging. My husband is so supportive that he lets me torture him with tea on YouTube!

Is there anything that you wish you knew when you started drinking tea? I’d love to hear about it the comments!

Become a Patron!

Pin It for Later!

This post was originally published on April 11th, 2016. It was updated on May 5th, 2021.

GuideMeTea

About Nicole Wilson

My name is Nicole Wilson and I love tea...a lot! I have been writing about my love of the leaf since 2008. My work has been featured on World Tea News, The Daily Tea, Tea Journey, and other publications. I am the winner of the 2018 World Tea Award for Best Tea Blog. My new book, The Tea Recipe Book, is available for sale now!

Related Posts

How to Get Started Drinking Tea – Buying Your Tea – Part 4
How to Get Started Drinking Tea – Buying Your Tea – Part 4
How to Get Started Drinking Tea – Tools of the Trade – Part 3
How to Get Started Drinking Tea – Tools of the Trade – Part 3
How to Get Started Drinking Tea- Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – Part 2
How to Get Started Drinking Tea- Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – Part 2
How to Get Started Drinking Tea – Drink Lots of It – Part 1
How to Get Started Drinking Tea – Drink Lots of It – Part 1

Post navigation

What Determines Caffeine Content in Tea?
The Surprising Tea History of America and Japan

4 comments

  1. Eustacia Tan says:
    May 30, 2021 at 7:20 am

    I agree with all 10 points!! Especially about not being intimidated – tea can seem so complex but when it comes down to it, it’s something you drink and the point of a personal tea journey is to find out which teas suit you (vs learning about tea as a job, which can be more stressful).

    Reply
    1. Nicole Wilson says:
      June 1, 2021 at 2:56 pm

      It can definitely be super overwhelming but learning is all a part of the journey.

      Reply
  2. Anesce Dremen says:
    May 31, 2021 at 3:40 am

    Great points here! Crucial factors that I have kept rooted in my own tea journey have included prioritized learning directly from stakeholders and people who work directly in the tea gardens. Gaining procifiency in Mandarin was crucial for my experience in researching Chinese tea traditions; however, I’d most definitely suggest learning at least key terms in the tea lexicon per each region you’re extremely passionate about. One last note is to support direct sourcing, single origin, sustainable, natural, small scale tea gardens as much as possible.

    Reply
    1. Nicole Wilson says:
      June 1, 2021 at 2:58 pm

      Digging into tea is definitely a great way to learn more about the Chinese language and tea traditions.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hey, there!

Hey, there!

Nicole Wilson. Tea Writer and Educator
Do you love to drink tea, but wish you knew more about it? I'm here to help! The world of specialty tea is massive so it can be a lot to take in. On this blog, you'll find over 1,000 articles and tea reviews to start your journey. I'm always happy to answer questions you might have!

Help Support This Site

Become a Patron!

My New Book!

My New Book!

Subscribe!

Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for the latest blog posts, tea news, and more!

Categories

  • Connect
  • Learn
  • Sip
  • Sponsored
  • Testimonials
  • Travel

Archives

Instagram

Amazon Rec’s

Amazon Recommendations
  • Blog
    • Learn
    • Sip
    • Connect
    • Travel
  • Beginner’s Guide to Tea
  • Matcha
  • Puerh
  • Tea in NYC
  • Book
  • About Me
Copyright © 2022 | All Rights Reserved | Designed by Little Theme Shop