Sunday, December 13, 2009

Enjoy The Exotic Flavor Of Blooming Tea

By Chris Perry

As more people learn about the exotic and delicate flavors of blooming tea, it is becoming more popular around the world. Blooming tea is the latest thing among the tea drinking population as it offers more than just a tasty cup of tea, but a symphony for all the senses to enjoy.

For those among you unfamiliar with this type of tea, blooming tea is a tea ball that is made of a bundle of tea leaves and flowers that are sewn together with fine cotton thread. The petals and buds of the flowers are put in special arrangements and unfurl into glorious floral displays. The flowers that are used to create these displays are normally jasmine, marigold, rose, chrysanthemum, hibiscus and osmanthus.

When you place one of these tea balls into boiling water, the ball opens itself and reveals a dleightful floral display that excites your visual sense just as much as it thrills your sense of taste and from the tea glass comes a dizzying aroma of tea and flower. A blooming tea ball is more than a couple of tea, it is a sensual and dramatic experience.

Other names for blooming tea include: flowering tea, blossoming tea, artisan tea, China display tea, art tea and crafted tea. Sometimes it is called a combination of the terms.

Tea has been drunk throughout China for millennia and has become an important part of Chinese culture. The history of blossoming tea is unclear however, with some people claiming it has been around for centuries and others claiming that it is a new invention having only been used for around 15 years.

Blossoming tea is made in China by hand and are usually made with green tea leaves, but occasionally with white or black tea. The leaves are tied with cotton and the flowers are added in arrangements in the center of the tea bud. Each flowering tea ball takes between 2 and 10 minutes to create. Knowing that the tea ball has been specially hand crafted for you to enjoy makes blooming tea even more special.

You prepare blossoming tea by dropping the ball into a cup or glass and then pouring boiling water over the top. As the tea steeps, the leaves tied into the ball will soften and gradually the flowers will unfurl and reveal their beauty. If you enjoy a light fragrance of tea, then infuse it for three minutes. If you like your tea with a stronger flavor, then keep it steeping for around five to 10 minutes.

Tea drinking is more than just a way to quench your thrist: tea has many health giving properties and benefits as well as being relaxing and enjoyable. People who love blossoming tea are those that enjoy the finer things in life and are prepared to sit back and enjoy the simple pleasures in life in an increasingly hectic and time poor world. You too can learn to love the simpler things in life and reclaim pleasure in eating and drinking that has been lost to a large extent in our rushed modern existence. Seek out and enjoy a cup of flowering artistic tea today.

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