Tea Reviews | It's All About The Leaf

Posts Tagged ‘Flowering Tea’

Flowering teas originate from Southwestern Yunnan Province. Flowering teas are prepared primarily for their aesthetics; often in glass / transparent vessels so that the blooming of a flower right before your eyes within seconds can be fully enjoyed. The tea leaves are harvested and while damp, they are sewn into various shapes and bundles with cotton thread. One single, more elaborate bundle may take as long as ten minutes to sew. Flowers commonly used are globe amaranth, chrysanthemum, jasmine, lily, hibiscus, and osmanthus. Flowering teas can be refreshed several times, and do not get bitter with extended steeping. The taste profile is usually light, fragrant, and aromatic. Here I have posted pictures of my steeping of Canton Tea’s Sweet Osmanthus.

This flowering tea is in the shape of a bulb. It is made up of silver needle and orange osmanthus flowers so I steeped it at 88C. The aroma coming off the pot smelled very sweet like nectar and a little like medicinal herbs. It did not smell floral at all.

The infusion was a light orange colour similar to the colour of the osmanthus flower that emerged from the bulb. This is interesting for a silver needle. Most infusions of industrial white teas are yellowish-orange but not premium quality white tea which brings up the point of the quality of the tea that goes into flowering teas. I would think that they are on the lower end as the point of flowering teas is more for aesthetics than for taste.

The bulb opened up completely in about 3 minutes, just enough time for the tea to steep. The website said the tea tastes like lilies and orange osmanthus. I do not know what that tastes like but this tea did not taste floral or fruity, or crisp or refreshing but it is on the opposite end – more robust, grounded, a hardier taste. It tastes a bit like sugar cane. Not bad if that is what you like. Sometimes I opt for the less fruity and floral teas myself.

You can purchase the Sweet Osmanthus Flowering Tea directly from the Canton Tea Co. website.

Flowering teas are a wrapped present. The inside and the resulting tea are always a surprise. The little bundle felt very substantial and almost overly heavy before I placed it in the steaming water. It then began to open, and it looked a little, well, shoddy. Pieces of the exterior tea leaves fell off and the bright orange flower in the center was lopsided. The color palate was gorgeous however, and the bloom filled by glass teapot like a beautiful, if battle scarred, marine creature. After about a three minute steep, the liquor was a slightly cloudy light yellow.

The aroma was slightly similar to honeysuckle, but very faint. The flavor started off tasting slightly creamy, and then melted into a delicate honey and melon, the honey getting stronger and almost toasted as the brew cooled. A second steeping resulted in a more floral scented brew with a toastier flavor. Overall this was an enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing tea.

You can purchase the Sweet Osmanthus Flowering Tea directly from the Canton Tea Co. website.

Canton has become one of my preferred tea companies and today I’m reviewing one of their flowering teas. It’s called Sweet Osmanthus and I expect it will be both beautiful and delicious. My glass teapot met my ceramic floor about a month ago so I’m making do with one of my Brandy glass, hoping it will have enough room to steep properly.

The dry ‘bulb’ is tightly woven into an unusual shape (unusual compared to other similar teas I’ve had), and it smells slightly floral. Placed it in my glass and poured almost boiling water on it – steeping it as I would any other Silver Needle. It started to bloom almost instantly, exposing the orange Osmanthus leaves that were hidden away in it’s center. The liquor turned a light orange color which surpised and delighted me and the scent grew more floral by the minute. The scent reminds me of lilies but with a hint of mandarin with it. Steeped it for 3 minutes then tasted it and it is really good. I expected it to taste perfumy but it doesn’t, slightly nutty with a smooth finish and a clean lingering aftertaste.

When I was finished savoring it, I rinsed the flower in cool water to put on display – hoping it will hold it’s shape for a few days so I can enjoy it…

You can purchase the Sweet Osmanthus Flowering Tea directly from the Canton Tea Co. website.

Company Product Description: Artisans train for years to create blossoming tea flowers, and the Dancing Angels Flowering Tea represents the peak of that training. Each flowering tea is painstakingly hand sewn to ensure the each bud will open up and create a visual delight.

This flowering tea hails from the Anhui Province of China, where only the best leaves are chosen to wrap around a chain of Jasmine flowers, hanging like an arch over an Amaranth flower in the middle.

A succulent peach undertone characterizes this flowering tea, and it is as much of a joy to sip as it is to watch it unfold in the teapot. Each flower can be infused several times, and when you are finished brewing, you can replace the water in the pot or transfer the blossoming tea to a clear cup, add cold water and a touch of vinegar, and enjoy the blossom for days!

This Dancing Angels Flowering tea makes a great gift for friends, or can be enjoyed at a tea party where it will inevitably become the center of attention and conversation between you and your friends.!

REVIEW:

I was in a “Kids Choir” at our church when I was little and I always remember one of my first shows…we had to dress up like Angels and sing, dance, and act our way thru a Christmas Cantata.  I think I was 5 at the time.  I remember there being at least 2 Acts.  For some reason I had a sort-of Tea-Association with this Tea Experience.  When I tried this flowering tea for the first time I put it to the test for a total of 4 infusions…or should I say “Acts”?  Here are my findings…

ACT 1 – Infusion 1:
One this flower blooms it is HUGE!  It opened PERFECTLY and completely. The Red Floral Center’s color is so vibrant it looks like a strawberry from across the room. The liquid’s scent is sweet and wine-like. The color is pale but a pretty yellowish-white. My first sip was still very hot but I could instantly find the peachy tones – or should I say – they found me?

It’s sweet and peachy and floral-Jasmine towards the end of the sip. One of the better flowering teas I have EVER had! This is VERY flavorful especially for a flowering tea.

ACT 2 – Infusion 2:
The 2nd infusion was more flavorful than the first only infused about a minute longer. It was darker than the first infusion and, again, VERY tasty.  YUM.

ACT 3 – Infusion 3:
I could taste the Jasmine more than before.  TeaFrog says it’s good for 2 to 3 infusions but I am going to push the envelop!

ACT 4 – Infusion 4:
The 4th Infusion was lighter in color than the last 2 and sweeter but not much Jasmine than before but that’s okay with me.  One could probably try a 5th infusion if you were looking for a weaker or mellow tea. Regardless I am very pleased with this and would recommend it to anyone!

You can purchase the Dancing Angels directly from the TeaFrog website.