Inconspicuous because of their compact nature, blooming teas are delicately hand-tied or rolled in mushroom, gumball, watermelon, disk, or pumpkin-like shapes. Ranging from approximately 4-8 cm, the spindly, green tea leaves of each ball conceal a dried floral blossom of either carnation, chrysanthemum, marigold, osmanthus, jasmine, aramanth, lily, or even peacock flowers.Despite their delicate appearance,
these artisan teas are often considered the easiest of all teas to prepare, given the mild varietals used in creating each blend. Young green leaves, sometimes infused with jasmine, perfectly pair with the chosen sweet, dense flower to create an aromatic scent and surprisingly smooth flavor. Once immersed in hot water, individual bouquets will begin to unfold, leaf by leaf, until the entire setting bursts into an eye-catching array of color after a few short minutes.Display teas should always be prepared in glass so their aesthetic elegance can be fully enjoyed. A wine glass or glass tea pot is generally most appropriate, but even a glass jar can be used in a pinch. However, when using a large pot or jar, extra care should be taken because large amounts of liquid may jostle the hand-
made display; pouring and re-steeping may also. Generally, if the tea is being enjoyed directly from a wine glass, the blossom will remain stable and won’t be as likely to shed leaves or petals. (At left, a glass espresso carafe is used to easily strain petal and leaf remnants.) Tea bags, including triangle tea bags, are never recommended as they prevent the blossom from fully opening and inhibit a well-rounded infusion.Most artisan teas can be steeped as many as five or six times, with each steep requiring more time than the last. The Gui Hai Lily Blossom, pictured here, is a perfect example of the lasting quality of this type of tea. Its initial steep was five minutes and thirty seconds in a 14 oz. glass carafe using water that had not quite reached a boil. Steep two through five were progressively longer; the sixth, and final, steep was 22 minutes.
Because display teas are generally soft in character and not as astringent as some other teas, they will hardly ever acquire any bitterness, even after an extended steep. (I could have let the final steep of the Gui Hai go even longer.) Without the need to monitor infusion time, this hand-crafted tea becomes ideal as a lunch or dinner beverage, as the long-lasting fragrance and flavor through several refreshing infusions will properly accompany any meal. Even in formal dining settings, flower teas offer an elegant alternative to a glass of wine, especially for guests who may have allergies to sulfites in wine or who prefer not to drink.
Whether you are having a dinner party for 1 or 100, the delicate, sweet taste of hand-finished artistic teas will undoubtedly please even the most discerning palette. No matter your company, everyone will enjoy this beautiful and delicious tea.
For fine selections and more information about display teas, visit:
http://www.artisan-tea.com/
http://www.qualiteas.com/features/display_teas.html
http://www.ambrosiateas.com/blooming_teas.html
