Selecting tea requires knowledge=Aside from the variety, tea is classified into grades. Generally, appraisement of tea is based on five principles, namely, shape of the leaf, colour of the liquid, aroma, taste and appearance of the infused leaf.

There are many different characteristics to the shape of the leaf. For instance leaves can be flat, needle-like, flower-like, and so on. The judgment of what type is best is usually made according to the artistic tastes of the tea tasters.

The evenness and transparency of the leaf will decide the color of the liquid. To obtain an excellent tea, avoid rough burnt red leaves or red stems.

Aroma is the most important factor in judging the quality of a kind of tea. By putting 3 grams worth of leaves into 100 milliliters of boiled water, people can judge the quality of the tea by the smell.

The final judgment should be completed through the taste of the liquid and the appearance of the infused leaves.