Investigation into the relationship between cup shape and the taste of tea

摘要

The Chinese culture of tea drinking is rooted in people's daily lives. With the passing of dynasties, tea-drinking methods have evolved, from tea bowls in the Song Dynasty to small teacups in the Ming Dynasty. The function of a teacup is not only to hold the tea liquid; it should also develop a better quality of tea. Much research has been done into the influence of a receptacle's color and shape on the perception of coffee, juice and wine, but not tea. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between cup shape and the taste of tea to provide evidence of tea quality for consumers, tea masters or tea vessel designers. The findings reveal that the shape of the cup does influence the taste of tea as well as the scent of tea.