How to Keep a Tea Journal

You tried a tea last month that was perfect. Honey-sweet, smooth, lingered just right. You'd buy it again in a heartbeat. Except you can't remember what it was called. Or where you got it. Or what temperature you brewed it at.

Sound familiar? That's why tea journals exist.

Why bother?

A tea journal does three things:

1. It helps you remember. You drink a lot of tea. Without notes, the good ones blur together.
2. It helps you learn. When you track what you liked and why, you start to see patterns. Maybe you always love oolongs from Taiwan. Maybe you hate anything that tastes grassy. That's useful.
3. It helps you buy smarter. Instead of guessing at the tea shop, you check your notes. "Last time I liked the Nilgiri spring harvest. Let me try another Indian black."

What to track

Keep it simple. You don't need to write an essay for every cup. Here's what actually matters:

The basics

• Tea name and brand. "Golden Tips from Harney & Sons" not just "that black tea."
• Tea type. Black, green, oolong, white, herbal, pu-erh. Helps you spot preferences.
• Where you got it. Shop name, URL, or "gift from Mom." You'll want to reorder.

How you brewed it

• Water temperature. This matters more than most people think. 212°F works for black tea but will scorch a green.
• Steep time. Three minutes? Five? Did you go for a second steep?
• Amount. Roughly how much leaf per cup.

What you thought

• Flavor notes. What does it actually taste like? "Sweet and malty" is better than "good." Be specific. Compare to things you know. "Like honey and toast" beats "pleasant sweetness."
• Rating. A simple 1-5 scale works. Don't overthink it. If you'd buy it again, that's a 4 or 5.
• Would you buy it again? The most important field. Yes, no, or "only if it's on sale."

Paper vs. digital

Some people love a physical notebook. There's something nice about it. But paper journals have real downsides:

• You can't search them. ("What was that oolong I liked in September?")
• You can't sort by rating or type.
• You won't have them with you at the tea shop.
• They don't come with brew timers.

A phone app solves all of this. You already have your phone when you're brewing tea. Log it in 30 seconds while it steeps.

Tips for actually sticking with it

1. Don't log every cup. Your morning routine English Breakfast doesn't need documentation. Log new teas, interesting teas, and teas you want to remember.
2. Log while it's fresh. Don't wait until the end of the week. You'll forget everything. 30 seconds right after your first sip.
3. Keep ratings honest. Not everything has to be a 5. A 2-star tea is useful data. Now you know to avoid it.
4. Revisit your notes. The journal only helps if you read it. Before buying tea online, check what you've already rated highly. Before visiting a tea shop, look at what types you've been loving lately.

A starter template

If you want to start with paper before going digital, here's a simple format:

Date: Feb 27, 2026
Tea: Assam Golden Tips (Harney & Sons)
Type: Black
Brew: 200°F, 4 min, 1 tsp per cup
Notes: Lighter than expected for an Assam. Natural honey sweetness, gentle body. Nothing like the bold breakfast Assams I'm used to.
Rating: 4/5
Buy again: Yes

That's it. Six fields. Takes 30 seconds. And next time you're wondering what tea to order, you'll know exactly where to look.

Keep reading

• Best Loose Leaf Tea for Beginners — 10 teas to start with
• Oolong vs Green Tea — Same plant, different cup
• Tea Journal Feature — How Resteeped makes journaling easy