Flowering Tea
Oct 17th, 2020
Flowering Tea
By Lindsay Wong
What is flowering tea?
Flowering tea is a bundle of dried tea leaves wrapped together in dried flowers. The tea leaves are sewn by hand into different shapes like a sphere, oval, etc. Edible flowers are used including carnation, chrysanthemum, hibiscus, jasmine, Osmanthus, lily and rose. After being infused, the flowering tea takes on a different shape. The blooming process is fascinating; the flowers pop out of the tea leaves after they have been softened by the hot water.
History
Hand-tied teas have been around in China for centuries as a practice and delicacy. The parts of China most associated with flowering tea are Anhui, Fujian and Yunnan. In the 1980s, flowering tea became more excessive. Now, it is popular around the world.
Flavor
Flowering tea is known for its appearance more than its taste. As such, it has a neutral and mild taste as the shaping process compromises the taste of the tea. However, flowers with stronger tastes like chrysanthemum, jasmine and rose can be tasted.
Brewing and Production Processes
Flowering teas are made from the buds of the tea plant. The leaves are processed into the tea before they are moistened by hand. With string, the bundles are sewn together and wrapped in cloth to dry. Glass-brewing vessels are commonly used so that we can enjoy their appearances. Flowering tea is steeped for around 20 minutes before it is served.
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