tea leaves
Caddy's dried contents
Tea leaves are the dried leaves of the tea plant, used to brew tea.
After steeping, the soggy leaves that remain in a cup or pot have traditionally been examined for patterns thought to predict the future—a practice called tasseography or simply reading the tea leaves.
This figurative sense has extended beyond fortune-telling: to read the tea leaves now means to interpret subtle signs or indicators to anticipate what's coming.
Smart investors try to read the tea leaves before making big moves.
Soaking to extract flavor
- infusionSteeping to extract essence
- kettleSpouted vessel for heating water
- strainerPerforated draining vessel
- hot waterHeated liquid, or trouble
steep time · aroma · flavor · ceremony · unfurling · first flush · liquor
Predicting someone's future
- symbolsMarks conveying meaning
- patternsRecurring arrangements or designs
- prophecyForetelling of future events
- omensProphetic signs or warnings
seer · psychic · clairvoyance · predictions · fate · destiny · interpretation · intuition
Semi-oxidized tea variety
Astringent plant compounds
- astringencyDrying, puckering quality
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- mouthfeelOral texture perception
- aftertasteResidual flavor perception
body · briskness · maltiness · muscatel · floral · grassy · vegetal · smoky
steeping
Soaking to extract flavor
- infusionSteeping to extract essence
- kettleSpouted vessel for heating water
- strainerPerforated draining vessel
hot water · steep time · aroma · flavor · ceremony · unfurling · first flush · liquor
fortune telling
Predicting someone's future
- symbolsMarks conveying meaning
- patternsRecurring arrangements or designs
- prophecyForetelling of future events
omens · seer · psychic · clairvoyance · predictions · fate · destiny · interpretation · intuition · ritual
oolong
Semi-oxidized tea variety
tannins
Astringent plant compounds
- astringencyDrying, puckering quality
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- mouthfeelOral texture perception
aftertaste · body · briskness · maltiness · muscatel · floral · grassy · vegetal · smoky · earthy
chamomile
Soothing herbal infusion plant
- peppermintAromatic mint hybrid
- hibiscusTropical flowering shrub
- lemongrassFragrant tropical culinary grass
rosehip · echinacea · lavender · ginger · valerian · rooibos · spearmint · jasmine · dandelion · nettle
- dry goodscoffee beans, spices, salt, sugar, wheat
- shelf-stablecanned goods, dried beans, white rice, dried fruit, lentils
- divinationdivination, fortune telling, fortune-telling, fortune teller, tarot
- Stimulant Plantscoffee plant, guarana, yerba mate, kola nut, coca
- coffee and teaespresso, latte, cappuccino, americano, oolong
- folk beliefssuperstition, superstitions, folk beliefs, omens, good luck
tea leavescoffee grounds
Used brewing residue
coffee beans · cocoa powder · instant coffee · yerba mate · roasted barley
tea leavescrystal ball
Fortune-teller's viewing sphere
tarot cards · palm reading · rune stones · astrology charts · pendulum
tea leavesscientific evidence
Data from systematic research
empirical data · statistical analysis · hard facts · logical deduction
tea, leaf, leafy, leaves, teacup, teapot, teas, leafed, teabag