Reading the tea leaves

Posted by David FG September 11, 2010 at 07:07In reply to Reading the tea leaves posted by ESC on September 10, 2010 at 13:28:

What is the origin of the expression "reading the tea leaves"?

Tasseography (also known as tasseomancy or tassology) -- divination or fortune-telling method that interprets patterns in tea leaves, coffee grounds, or wine sediments. (Source: Wikipedia)

It's analogous with 'reading palms' and similar expressions.

DFG