Why Do Some People Call Me a Charlatan?

Ever since I started studying tea, I often hear people calling me a charlatan, and I just laugh it off. Recently, after several intense discussions with tea friends on similar topics, I suddenly felt the urge to write a short piece to explore this matter.

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1. Tea Needs to Be Viewed Dialectically.

1. Is Tea Cold or Warm in Nature?

New tea is cold, aged tea removes dampness, so would you say tea is cold or warm?

"New tea can have its cold nature removed (or 'reduced') through certain processes, mainly involving fire, such as roasting. It's no longer cold but warm. So, is tea cold or warm?

Tea from forests can be processed this way and not be cold, while plantation tea is extremely cold... So, is tea cold or warm?

There are many possibilities just regarding whether tea is cold or warm. A simple statement about tea being cold or warm is imprecise. If one lacks understanding, they might think I'm being mysterious and start treating me as a charlatan.

2. Your Inability to Perceive It Doesn't Mean It Doesn't Exist.

Don't mind that my business is a mess; there are still a few people learning tea with me.

For example, tea has something that the human body can feel, but if your body isn't 'clear' enough, no matter how I tell you, you won't experience it. This is different from the common hiccups or sweating; it refers to the activity in my tea scoring, which I often call 'body sensation.' The quoted terms deserve deep attention and a dedicated article from me. As regular readers of my articles know, as usual, I'll write about it when I have time.

A few people, after drinking tea with me a few times, suddenly felt it; they got it in an instant. Based on my observations, it's generally due to these reasons: straightforward personality, light taste preferences, or regular practice of some form of exercise. More often, after ten years, they still can't feel it. I myself, in 2015, felt it immediately when someone first guided me.

I often tell them: training your palate can make you highly skilled in taste evaluation, becoming an expert in tea tasting, but body sensation has a layer of paper; you might never break through it in your lifetime, or you might break through after a good night's sleep. Since 2016, I've been writing numerous articles and later videos, saying that tea speaks, and you need to understand it; saying that to understand tea, you need a light palate and a regular lifestyle. Why? Body sensation is the main reason.

If you can't feel tea's body sensation, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. If I talk to you about body sensation, it's highly likely you'll see me as a charlatan.

2. Our Understanding of Tea Is Far from Complete, Including Science.

1. Why Do I Dislike Many Academics?

Am I against academia? No.

Am I against science? Definitely not.

I'm only against those who talk about scientific logic they themselves don't understand, who peddle unclear knowledge, create anxiety to sell tea (or courses).

If you observe these people closely, they often delete previous content. Deleting it and not talking about it doesn't mean you didn't do it; everything leaves traces.

Human cognition is never achieved overnight; it's a gradual process. I never delete what I've written before. Since 2013, I've been writing about tea, and I've kept it all. I often revisit it, which helps my current learning.

Explaining tea through science shouldn't be taken lightly. You say 'the older, the more fragrant,' and they ask for a paper to show them. How do you respond?

'These academics' spout off a bunch of scientific reasoning, often citing something from a book, but the book might also be imprecise or based on hearsay.

Let me take Mansong tribute tea as an example. There's no empirical evidence that Mansong was tribute tea, but some companies heavily advertise it. Is that false advertising? Written content isn't necessarily true. If later generations cite such text as evidence, is that acceptable?

When I confront these people, their followers think I'm a charlatan.

2. What I Keep Saying About 'Healthy Tea Drinking' Is Still in a Stage Where It Can't Be Clearly Explained.

For example, the body sensation mentioned above is hard to explain.

For example, if tea is fully processed, new tea isn't cold and doesn't harm the body much, but that's hard to explain.

For example, tea that isn't fully processed, even after 20 or 30 years, still can't be drunk in excess. Why? It's hard to explain.

Not being able to articulate it clearly is the theoretical stage of my current advocacy for 'healthy tea drinking.'

Fortunately, I have tea and empirical evidence.

But if they can't understand it through drinking, and I keep talking about it, they'll think I'm a charlatan.

3. Summary

The people around me who drink tea daily, including experienced tea makers, many don't understand what I'm saying. But that doesn't mean they're incapable; it just means they lack understanding in this area.

Having your own viewpoint on making tea and following it is correct—that's my belief.

Stick to your understanding of tea. Don't be persuaded by others about teas you don't like. Be yourself.

This article doesn't aim to change your opinion that I'm not a charlatan, because it's not written for you.

Do your own thing well; acknowledge gains and losses without dwelling on them.

This is the forty-first article in my 'Talking About Tea on Paper' series. Both text and images are original. Click to read more articles in the 'Talking About Tea on Paper' series.