Blooming Flower Tea

There are those that believe that these beautiful works of art came from an ancient Chinese tradition; however it is widely considered to be developed in the 1990s in China and made its way to the west in the early 2000s.

It is popular to brew this type of tea in a clear pot or cup in order to watch the leaves unfurl as it steeps.  This tea is usually good for multiple brews so it’s better to brew in a pot.  The most common flowers used in flowering teas are chrysanthemums, jasmines, lilies, osmanthus and hibiscus.

They are created when artisans bunch the leaves into a ball and having them dry in that form, allowing the leaves to retain the ball structure.  When packaged, they are wrapped individually so as they are not jostled during transport.  There are some that say that there are artisans that can create little scenes with their teas (some say like a sailing ship, though I have never seen it for myself).  I will admit, half the fun is seeing what will unfurl from that tight little ball.

If you are finishing your tea and are finding it heartbreaking to lose the work of art…never fear! By using two spoons, you can transfer your tea from your teapot of hot water to another filled with cold water.  Some say that this can be maintained for weeks!

While digging up research, I also found that there are those out there that make their own tea balls.  In fact, I found instructions on how to do it myself!  Here’s the link for those willing to take on the challenge:

http://www.ehow.com/how_7661477_make-flowering-tea-balls.html

Cool, no? I managed to find a video on YouTube that allows you to watch this tea unfurl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbRpdYRz1Y0

It’s hard to believe a couple months ago I started this daily morning cup series. I hope you find it interesting. These don’t go into as much detail as my regular in-depth reviews or my other content, but I hope you like them nonetheless.

I chose this Organic Lemon Valerian from Hampstead Tea for my cup this morning.

Smooth and light is how I would describe this brew. The Valerian root adds a nice relaxing touch this morning.

In both the flavor and aroma there are undertones of Lemon mixed amongst a couple even more subtle hints at hay and citrus spice.

Morning Cup #50

What’s in your cup?

I woke up on the grumpy side of the bed this morning. So, I instantly gravitated to this Organic Peppermint from Taylors of Harrogate to soothe my nerves.

Crisp and clean, this tea remains invigorating throughout the infusion. I think it’s best hot, but even chilled a bit it proves quite refreshing.

The aroma and flavor are spot on what I expected and was hoping for.

Morning Cup #49

What’s in your cup?

Teas & Tisanes

Here’s a fun fact for you: there are teas that are not made from tea leaves. Gasp!  Technically this means that these are not ‘teas.’ Instead they are called tisanes, or herbal teas.

The word tisane is derived Greek word ptisanē, which means crushed barley.  This is in reference to an old drink that was made from crushed barley.  Essentially you could throw any herb, flower or spice into a pot of boiling water and voila you have a tisane.  Once you add tea leaves to the mix, and then it is officially tea.  Just so you know, since the tisane are lacking in tea leaves, there is usually no caffeine.

Tisanes have been popular for years for their health properties.  People have been creating these herbal teas for centuries.  If you are interested in finding a tea to cure certain ailments, here are some herbs and their properties:

To invigorate: rosemary, rosehip, lemon verbena, peppermint, borage

To calm: chamomile, lavender, basil, dill, orange peel

To relieve a sore throat or head cold: elderberries, rosehips, peppermint, sage, and cayenne

To treat a cough: thyme, rose petals, eucalyptus, linden, licorice

To sooth an upset stomach: ginger, peppermint, lemon balm, and chamomile

To ease a headache: rosemary, willow bark, peppermint

However, I must note that these herbal teas, like or medication, contain components that can cause unwanted side effects so please be wary of using it while on other medication.  If you are interested in creating your own concoction, please discuss this with a trained health care professional.

I have a particular fondness for tisanes.  When I want to sleep, I immediately go for a cup of chamomile.  When I have an upset stomach, there is always a cup of peppermint tea by my side.  Teas and herbal teas have a lot of health benefits; it is more than just great flavor.

What do you think, dear readers?  Do you use tea to cure your own ailments? If so, what teas do you go for and why?

In the cup this morning is a Vanilla Rooibos from Adagio Teas.

Like most Rooibos tisanes, this one brews a wonderfully vivid red liquor. The aroma is light and sweet with hints of honey amongst the clear vanilla overtones.

On the palate the same vanilla overtones come through nicely with balance. A nice surprise considering how often vanilla is overpowering in a tea.

Morning Cup #36

What’s in your cup?