A darker-looking herbal tea does not give you a complete description of its flavour. Treat colour as one observation and taste as another when comparing different ingredients or servings.
Keep the comparison clear
Two different teas can have different appearances before you make any changes to their preparation. Cup material and lighting also affect the view. Use the product names in your notes rather than describing everything simply as the pale cup and the dark cup.
Describe the taste directly
Aroma, intensity and finish give you useful words for the actual drink. Note whether you prepared it plain or added something. A photograph can show appearance, but it cannot establish a flavour measurement or tell another reader exactly how the drink will taste to them.
Change one thing thoughtfully
If you want to explore another serving of the same product, stay within its preparation instructions and record what changed. Avoid using darkness as a reason to ignore the packet. For different ingredients, compare finished cups on their own terms rather than expecting a shared colour scale.
Common questions
Can I judge a tea’s flavour from a product photograph?
A photograph shows appearance, rather than your tasting experience.
Should I record colour in a tasting journal?
Yes. Keep it separate from your description of flavour.
Explore more tea questions
Read Why Does Herbal Tea Taste Bitter?, browse the related K&M products or download our free herbal tea and wellness book.