Loose tea, wide cup, turn it over
How to Read Tea Leaves
Tea leaf reading is a folk tradition in which the shapes made by the leaves left at the bottom of a cup are interpreted. It uses the same symbol language as coffee reading; the difference lies in the material and in how the cup is prepared.
What is tea leaf reading?
Reading fortunes in tea leaves became widespread, especially in Britain and Scotland, after tea spread to Europe in the 17th century, and it was later adopted in regions where coffee reading was already known. The method is very like coffee reading: the leaves left in the drunk cup spread over its walls when it is turned over, and the shapes that form are read.
Because tea leaves are coarser than coffee grounds, fewer but clearer shapes form in the cup. That is why in tea reading it is easier to look at single figures and where they sit than at the dense patterns of coffee reading.
How do you prepare the cup for tea leaf reading?
- Use loose tea.Brew the pot without a strainer, or put a pinch of coarse loose-leaf tea straight into the cup and add hot water.
- Choose a wide, white-lined cup.In a tall narrow glass the leaves gather at the bottom; in a wide cup they spread over the walls and the shapes show.
- Drink the tea slowly.Drink until only a mouthful of tea and the leaves are left at the bottom.
- Swirl the cup and turn it over.By tradition the cup is swirled a few times and turned over onto the saucer so the remaining liquid drains away.
- Let it cool, then turn it back.After a few minutes the cup is turned upright and the shape and position of the leaves are read.
How is a tea cup read?
Reading follows the same position logic as coffee reading. Shapes near the rim relate to the topics on your mind, shapes in the middle to the present situation, and shapes at the bottom to things behind you or deep down. The handle side traditionally stands for the cup's owner and their home.
- Heart
- Traditionally associated with love and a close bond.
- Road
- Traditionally associated with a direction, a process.
- Bird
- Traditionally associated with news and communication.
- Snake
- Traditionally associated with a topic that needs attention.
- Tree
- Traditionally associated with growth and roots.
- Ring
- Traditionally associated with a promise and commitment.
- Key
- Traditionally associated with a solution or an opportunity.
- Ship
- Traditionally associated with a journey and change.
See the coffee reading symbol dictionary for the meaning of every symbol → Shapes that appear in tea leaves are read with the same traditional meanings.
Frequently asked questions
Are tea leaf reading and coffee reading the same?
The method and symbol language are largely the same: the cup is turned over, the shapes left behind are read according to where they sit. The difference is the material. Tea leaves are coarser than coffee grounds, so tea reading gives fewer but clearer shapes.
Can you read tea leaves with a tea bag?
Traditionally loose tea is used. The leaves in a tea bag are ground very fine and do not form clear shapes; if you want to try, you can open the bag and put the contents into the cup, but coarse loose-leaf tea gives a more readable result.
Can you read tea in a tall narrow tea glass?
In a tall narrow glass the leaves gather at the bottom and do not spread over the walls when turned over. That is why a wide, white-lined cup is preferred for tea leaf reading.
Is tea leaf reading real?
Tea leaf reading is a folk tradition in which the shapes made by leaves are interpreted with cultural symbols. It does not tell the future and is not a basis for medical, legal or financial decisions.