Flowering tea

Blooming teas

It looks like an inconspicuous ball, but just after dropping it into hot water it transforms into a beautiful, exotic flower. Flowering tea is a symbol of hidden, subtle beauty slowly revealing its power to us. The ritual of brewing this unique dried tea resembles a fascinating spectacle, and originated in 13th century China. It was then that the extraordinary tradition of hand-rolling tea leaves and fabulous flowers was initiated at the imperial court of the Song Dynasty. Brewing Nianling tea balls began to be considered an art. Even demonstrations and competitions were created, during which specialized artists enchanted spectators with their skills. In the 20th century, flowering tea reached Europe and today it is available almost everywhere. The ritual, once reserved for the eyes of the Chinese emperor, can now be performed by anyone - in the comfort of their home. And it's really worth doing. Flowering teas are available in many types and conceal many varieties of beautiful, often exotic, flowers. This is a wonderful gift for anyone who can appreciate true beauty and loves to celebrate special moments.

The queen of teas has more than one name

Chinese emperors called it the queen of teas because it combined the delicate flavor and color of the brew with the eye-pleasing sight of a blooming flower. What exactly is flowering tea? It is a hand-braided ball. Made of white or green tea leaves, the basket conceals a small flower. The whole thing is artfully tied with a thin string. After dropping the ball into hot water, the structure begins to unfold beautifully, showing the world a real treasure. Flowering teas are made only from green or white tea leaves. This is because the infusion obtained from them has a delicate enough transparent color, so that the flower blooming in the teapot can be clearly seen. Among the flowers that blooming teas hide, it is worth noting especially the lichi flower, jasmine, marigold, osmanthus lily or lilac. Each of them looks completely different, has a unique texture, shape and color. So it's worth being tempted to buy a set of different Nianling teas - and discover the uniqueness of each one in turn.

How to brew flowering teas?

Blooming tea is brewed the opposite way to any other tea. This means that we do not pour boiling water over it, but put it in a pot already filled with hot water. How hot? The optimal temperature is 70-80°C. Flowering tea should be brewed for 7-9 minutes. It can be poured two or even three times, each time extending the brewing time slightly and reducing the amount of water in the pitcher.

Ideal for gifts and special moments with loved ones

Blooming tea can serve as a lovely gift for a loved one. As a gift, it's a good idea to give someone an entire set made up of different types of blooming tea, and add a clear teapot or other gadget for brewing the brew. Who knows? Maybe such a gift will be for someone the beginning of a fascinating adventure with the world of tea? The spectacle of brewing blooming tea will also successfully conquer any social gathering.