Complete brewing guide: How to enjoy the delicate flavors of blooming tea?
When we land across something new, we almost always ask Google or Siri about what to do with it. However, there are certain things that Siri does not know correctly as well. For example – how to brew blossom tea. Millions of people across the world are still brewing blossom tea or blooming tea incorrectly. Only a few experts know how to do justice to those delicate flowering tea buds that can take your senses to heaven and back.
First, water
This should be no big deal, right? Apparently, not. While brewing blossom tea, you need to be very careful about the odor of the water, the presence of excessive iron and calcium. Excess anything in water can ruin delicate tea completely. The rule of thumb is quite simple – the best teas need the best water. You can go with filtered water. In fact, that is the best choice unless you have access to an endless reserve of fresh water, like a spring!
You need to heat the water up just right. Many people make the mistake of boiling the water before pouring it on the bud. Be very careful since more delicate buds can scald under boiling water and that can ruin the process and the tea. Don’t take water that is too cool either. The blooming process is the whole point of choosing blooming tea, and you would not want to wait 3 hours to watch it open like a flower in a dewy morning. Take water that is close to boiling point. Something between 198 and 212 Fahrenheit will do.
Second, teaware
The best tea also deserves the best tea-ware. That is why you should pick blooming tea gift sets that come complete with the perfect sized glass teapots, cups, and tumblers. Always pick a design that is crystal clear and that in no way impedes the viewing of the flowering process. Since these flowering tea sets are ideal as gifts, always pick a design of the right size. The clear glassware should be able to accommodate the entire blooming tea. A blooming tea bud usually takes the space equivalent to about 2-3 servings of regular green tea or black tea. They increase in size considerably once it comes in contact with hot water.
Third, enjoy
Remember to steep it between 3 and 5 minutes to release all the flavors. The delicate aromas of the dried flowers take some time to infuse in the water. Straining is not necessary since the leaves form a tight flower at the bottom. You can use filter paper while pouring in the teacup.
Buying from a good source is always better since they give you detail about the flowers that are inside and the kind of tea leaves inside the flowering bud. These contribute directly to the resulting flavor of the tea. There are several sizes of blooming tea buds. You can sample quite a few in the USA. Pick the bloom according to the dried flower inside since the essence of the flower will make a lot of difference in the final flavor after the brewing is complete.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
