In Urasenke, what professional hereditary name does each new iemoto assume?
Answer
Sen Sōshitsu
79 Tea Trivia Questions with Answers
79 public questions with answers, drawn from the well. How many can you answer?
Tea trivia spans cultivation, preparation, regional traditions, scientific classification, ceremonies, and the many drinks made from tea leaves and herbs. Questions range from Urasenke’s hereditary iemoto name and ISO 3103 brewing standards to the Charleston Tea Garden in South Carolina, the United States’ only large-scale tea farm.
The hub travels across the world, covering South Africa’s red bush infusion, Hong Kong’s coffee-and-milk-tea combination, India’s spiced chai, and Japanese green teas such as shaded gyokuro and later-season bancha. It suits tea lovers, food-and-drink quizzes, travel enthusiasts, classroom lessons, and pub quiz teams.
Under ISO 3103, how long is black tea brewed for sensory testing?
Answer
Six minutes
The Charleston Tea Garden, the only large-scale tea farm in the U.S., is in which state?
Answer
South Carolina
Which Hong Kong drink mixes coffee with milk tea?
Answer
Yuanyang
Which tea blend commonly includes black tea, milk, and spices in India?
Answer
Masala chai
Which Chinese green tea's name means 'green snail spring'?
Answer
Biluochun
Which oolong tea is named after the Chinese goddess of mercy?
Answer
Tieguanyin
Which Chinese green tea is named Dragon Well in English?
Answer
Longjing
Which fermented tea drink is made by using a SCOBY?
Answer
Kombucha
What milk tea spiced with masala originated in the Indian subcontinent?
Answer
Masala chai
Which country is associated with the tea blend Earl Grey?
Answer
United Kingdom
What form of tea was used as currency in ancient Tibet?
Answer
Tea bricks
What is the chemical formula for caffeine?
Answer
C8H10N4O2
What is the name of the oldest tea company in the world?
Answer
Twinings
What is the name of the traditional Turkish double teapot?
Answer
Çaydanlık
Which Indian state is famous for producing Nilgiri tea?
Answer
Tamil Nadu
Which country is credited with inventing the tea bag?
Answer
United States
Which type of Chinese tea is the rarest and least produced?
Answer
Yellow tea
Who introduced tea drinking to the English court in the 17th century?
Answer
Catherine of Braganza
Which flower is used to scent jasmine tea?
Answer
Jasmine
Which country is known for producing Ceylon tea?
Answer
Sri Lanka
Which tea is known as 'Gunpowder' due to its rolled leaves?
Answer
Gunpowder tea
What is the Japanese tea ceremony called?
Answer
Chanoyu
Which type of tea is partially oxidized?
Answer
Oolong
Which catechin is the most abundant in green tea?
Answer
Epigallocatechin gallate
What is the Japanese tea made from stems and stalks called?
Answer
Kukicha
Which ship was the first to arrive in Boston carrying tea in 1773?
Answer
Dartmouth
Which city in Sri Lanka is known for its high-grown tea?
Answer
Nuwara Eliya
Which Japanese green tea is mixed with toasted rice?
Answer
Genmaicha
What is the name of the Japanese roasted green tea?
Answer
Hojicha
In what year was the tea bag invented?
Answer
1908
What citrus fruit flavor is added to Earl Grey tea?
Answer
Bergamot
Which term describes the first harvest of Darjeeling tea in spring?
Answer
First Flush
Tea trivia — quick answers
What are good tea trivia questions?
Good tea questions cover plant varieties, brewing methods, ceremonies, regional drinks, cultivation, and tea terminology. Examples include identifying red bush tea, naming India’s spiced tea blend, distinguishing gyokuro from bancha, and recalling the ISO standard for sensory tea tasting.
How hard is tea trivia?
Tea trivia ranges from easy questions about familiar drinks such as chai to harder questions about Japanese tea grades, ceremonial traditions, international standards, and cultivation practices. It is accessible to casual drinkers but offers plenty of specialist material for tea enthusiasts.
What is red bush tea?
Red bush tea is rooibos, a caffeine-free herbal infusion made from the South African shrub Aspalathus linearis. The leaves and stems are typically fermented, producing the drink’s reddish color and naturally sweet, earthy flavor. Unfermented green rooibos is also available.
What is gyokuro?
Gyokuro is a premium Japanese green tea whose plants are shaded before harvesting. Reduced sunlight encourages a rich umami flavor and gives the brewed tea a deep green character. The leaves are processed carefully and are typically brewed at a lower temperature than many ordinary green teas.
What is the Hong Kong drink that mixes coffee with milk tea?
Yuenyeung is a Hong Kong beverage combining coffee with milk tea. The name refers to a pairing of unlike elements, reflecting the drink’s mixture of two popular beverages. It is commonly served hot or cold and is especially associated with Hong Kong-style cafés.
What is bancha?
Bancha is a Japanese green tea made from later-season leaves and often stems or other mature parts of the tea plant. Compared with more delicate teas, it generally has a milder, more robust flavor and is commonly enjoyed as an everyday tea.