Flowering teas, which are also known as blooming teas, are hand-tied bundles of tea leaves and flowers that unfurl when steeped in hot water, mimicking the aesthetics of a blooming flower.
These beautiful creations are handcrafted by skilled artisans, primarily in China and other regions of East Asia, and depending on the complexity of the design, a single bloom could take several minutes, or even hours to create.
Some of the flowers which are commonly used in the production of flowering teas are jasmine, lily, hibiscus, osmanthus, and globe amaranth.
Directions
A glass teapot is essential for viewing the blooming process of the tea.
- Begin by placing the tea bloom in your pot or glass.
- Heat water to the appropriate temperature for whichever type of tea is bundled into the flowering tea.
- Slowly pour the water over the bloom and let it steep. It’s during this steeping process that leaves and flowers begin to unfurl and over the next few minutes, the tea will expand into a floral arrangement.
Tips
- Although the steeping time varies, it usually takes around 5 minutes for the bloom to fully open and the flavors to develop.