Flowering tea or blooming tea is basically dried tea leaves that are bundled. The leaves are wrapped around one or more dried flowers, and secured with some binding, creating a bulb. Once bundled they are set to dry. When the bulb is steeped, the bundle expands and unfolds and expands in a process that is very similar to a blooming flower, and the flower inside emerges as the centerpiece.
The flavor of blooming flower tea is rather neutral. This is because the process of making the blooming flower takes away from the flavor. However, some flavors such as rose, chrysanthemum, and jasmine tea can have more flavor.
Flowerings teas first were sourced from the Yunnan providence of China. Some of the flowers used in flowering teas are globe amaranth, chrysanthemum, jasmine, lily, hibiscus, and osmanthus.
That wraps up this post. Stayed tuned for more Japanese themed teas and culture in the coming posts.
Alyssa