Flower tea, also called blooming tea, is a well-known kind of Chinese tea which features the flavor, smell, and color of both flowers and tea. This unique characteristic has drawn attention from many tea lovers and sparked their aspiration to learn how to make blooming tea.
This ultimate guide will show you the fundamental steps to crafting your own blossomy flowers at home and share some tips to help you nail the art of floral tea-making.
Is Blooming Tea Safe To Drink?
Blooming tea is popular not only for its flavor and visual appeal but also for a lot of health benefits it brings to consumers, such as digestive aid, reduced risk of chronic diseases, or enhanced immune function.
As long as you choose the best flowering teas from a quality specialty tea shop with carefully-selected ingredients, this relaxation drink is safe for you.
However, as with any tea, enjoy blooming tea in moderation. Drinking excessive amounts of tea, regardless of the type, can have adverse effects.
While the flowers and tea leaves are safe to consume, some parts, like the string or metal wire used to tie the bundle, may not be edible. Make sure to remove these parts before drinking the tea.
If you have allergies to specific flowers or tea types, be cautious and choose blooming teas that do not contain those ingredients.
How Does Blooming Tea Work?
The tea bundle typically comes in the shape of a tight ball or bulb, with the tea leaves and flowers held within. Some designs incorporate layers of tea leaves and flowers to enhance the visual effect.
When the blooming tea bundle is steeped in hot water, the tea leaves gradually unfurl, and the flowers open up. This process creates the “blooming” effect, which expands as the tea steeps.
How to use blooming tea? You’ll need a transparent glass teapot with infuser to fully enjoy the visual of the tea leaves and flowers. This can also help you monitor the brewing process.
Boil water to the appropriate temperature for the type of tea leaves used (e.g., 175-185°F or 80-85°C for green or white tea). Then, place the blooming tea bundle in the teapot or cup and carefully pour the hot water over it.
As the tea steeping process progresses, the tea leaves and flowers will slowly unfold and bloom, creating a mesmerizing display.
Some people choose to enhance the flavor by adding a touch of honey or sweeteners, but most drinkers choose to enjoy it as-is to fully appreciate the natural flavors.
How To Make Blooming Tea?
Simply put, it’s a process of hand-sewing and tying together different flowers and tea leaves into delicate, beautiful shapes that resemble dancing ladies as brewed.
Preparing Tea Leaves & Flowers
Start by selecting the finest premium green tea leaves. These leaves will serve as both a garnish and flavor enhancer in your blooming tea, so ensure they are of high quality.
Edible flowers, like marigold, jasmine, or others, play a crucial role in blooming tea. Pick fresh whole flowers or obtain them from a local market.
To preserve them, allow the flowers to dehydrate naturally, especially if you don’t have a dehydrator. Also, pay attention to the timing of picking and the condition of the flower buds for the best results.
Sewing Whole Flowers
Once your materials are ready, start by sewing them together into a bundle. Natural white cotton strings work well for this. Begin with the tea leaves, then incorporate the flowers into the bundle. Wind the string around the tea leaves and flowers, ensuring a secure connection. Finally, sew the flower onto the end and knot them together. Keep in mind that the tension should be just right – not too loose to prevent falling apart or too tight to avoid tearing the leaves and flowers.
Binding
The tea leaves serve as the foundation and flavor base for your blooming tea. After securing the tea leaves, it’s time to incorporate the dried flowers.
These flowers are usually the centerpiece of the bloom and contribute to the tea’s aroma and visual appeal.
To bind the tea leaves and flowers together, use natural white cotton thread or string. Carefully wind the thread around the tea leaves and flowers, ensuring a snug fit.
The thread holds everything in place and prevents the bundle from falling apart during the brewing process.
Once the tea leaves and flowers are securely bound together, the final step is to tie a knot in the thread. This knot not only keeps the bundle intact but also helps maintain the desired shape of the blooming tea.
To complete the process, tuck the flowers into your palm and gently roll them to form a ball shape. Use additional thread to wind around the tea ball to secure its shape. Then, wrap the tea ball with white cloth. Bake it to ensure it dries completely.
Now, your blooming tea is ready to be steeped and enjoyed during your afternoon tea break!
Practicing
It’s important to note that crafting blooming tea is a meticulous task that demands practice and dedication. While homemade versions may not always open up perfectly, they can still provide a delightful and aromatic tea experience.
If you’re short on time or patience, you can also explore pre-made blooming teas available in various flavors and designs.
Each blooming tea ball can be re-steeped multiple times, making it a cost-effective and enjoyable choice for tea enthusiasts. With a variety of flavors to choose from, you can pamper yourself and discover your favorite blooming tea.
Useful Tips For Improving Your Skills
- Pick dried tea leaves and flowers that look fresh and colorful. Most flower teas weigh around 6 to 10 grams.
- Skilled folks can make 2.5 kilograms of flowering tea in a single day. So, observe and learn from them.
- To make the flowers bloom nicely when brewing, gently prick the flower bottoms. Then, tie them with tea leaves and tidy up the silver needle tea buds for a beautiful result.
- The different shapes of flower tea come from various sewing methods. Try different techniques to create unique shapes.
- Don’t expect instant success when trying it for the first time. It can be therapeutic, but you may need practice.
- Professionals needle the flower bottoms, sew them to green tea leaves, and then make them look neat and fancy.
- The shapes and designs depend on how you sew them. You can find helpful tutorials to get started.
- After you’re done, make sure to dry the blooming tea bundle again. This helps preserve them for future use.
Key Takeaways
The great thing about learning how to make blooming tea is that you can add some details to your liking to create an appealing picture of blossoms when brewing. Note that the smell and health benefits from your drink will vary, depending on the types of leaves and flowers you use.
You’ll agree with us – floral tea you hand sew yourself tastes more special. So, get down to the process now and watch your tiny flowers bloom!
