BEHIND THE CRAFT
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Tea Craft: The Different Types of Tea

It’s remarkable that so many different types of ‘cup of tea’ come from the same plant - the Camelia Sinensis.

Black and green tea are the most drunk and well known. But added to these two giants: white tea, yellow tea, purple tea, puerh tea, oolong tea, flowering teas.

The fundamental difference between these teas is how the leaf is processed – see our Stories about the different type of teas.

Within each type of tea, there are so many further variations in flavours and colours - not only because of different processing methods, but also because of the ‘terroir’ – the local natural environment. Factors include altitude, climate, soil minerals, water source, cultivation methods and not forgetting – brewing method!

FGTE13157

Sacred Heart Flowering Tea Pouch x4 Bulbs

Net Weight: 28g

With orange lily, jasmine flowers and a globe amaranth, these hand-woven bulbs of green tea, known as 'Sacred Heart', unfurl elegantly during brewing and the resulting liquor has a superb delicate flavour.

The East India Company - Lifestyle

Tea

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£18.00
This flowering green tea from Yunnan province in China, is another lovely example of the artisan village skill of creating flowering teas.

Handwoven green tea is interlaced with orange lily and jasmine blossom, around a vibrant centre piece of a red globe amaranth.

See our Stories section below to find out more about Flowering Teas.
Our critical ingredients have a common theme.

A lily in China is said to represent one hundred years of love or unity between couples, whilst jasmine is the flower of love and beauty. And when the the flowers of a globe amaranth point upwards, the symbolism is of unfading eternal love.

The heart-shape of the blooming tea bulb simply adds to the romance with its stunning appearance and scents of jasmine and orange lily.
We recommend preparing in a glass teapot to experience the true theatre of this unique tea. Teapot sold seperately.  
Enjoy the theatre of the unfurling flowering tea is, as the globe amaranth is gradually revealed. We recommend of course to use a glass pot.

The tea drinking experience itself is equal to the visual spectacle - the liquor is bright yellow, has a sweet aroma and an aromatic floral flavour.
Quantity

1 BULB MAKES 2 CUPS

Temperature

200ML OF WATER EACH AT 85ºC

Brewing Time

3 MINS BREWING TIME

Ingredients

Chinese Bulbs of Orange Lily, Jasmine Flowers and Globe Amarnath.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place avoiding direct sunlight and strong odours.

Stories

Flowering Teas: Beauty & Taste Combined

We often use the word ‘artisan’ to describe someone who learns their trade over a lifetime and handcrafts beautiful items to be admired or treasured. Undoubtedly, the flowering tea craftspeople of China deserve this accolade, but it might be truer to describe them as artists.

So how did this art start?

Exactly when is a little disputed, but likely they have their origins a handful of centuries ago, becoming very popular only in the last 20 years or so. It certainly started in Yunnan, in south-east China, when the art of shaping teas for entirely visual purposes was developed to help decorate the royal courts.
Sometimes referred to as ‘blooming teas,’ flowering teas are hand-tied, intricate arrangements of either individual whole green tea leaves or long white buds, which hide a central fresh flower, like a rose or marigold perhaps, osmanthus or jasmine. The bundle is built up gradually and dried at each stage. Once complete to the desired size and shape, it will be finally baked dry, removing all the water as in normal for any tea.

From village to village in China, each with their own unique variations, the artists take great pride in their work, rightly believing their creations to symbolise love, happiness and prosperity.

These are precious – even the most experience flowering tea artists can only make handfuls a day. Always use glass when brewing your flowering tea for the full ‘wow’ effect. Take a picture, we would love to see it.

Our spirit delivers no ordinary products

  • FAQ

    Does flowering tea include caffeine and is there more or less than green or black tea and coffee?
    Flowering teas are green teas and yes therefore it does, and it varies. All tea leaves, just like coffee, contain caffeine. Tea usually has a lower level of caffeine than coffee, which averages around 95mg for a normal cup of coffee. But it is impossible to give a precise answer, because there are so many variables at play - the length of brew time, the amount of tea used, the age of the leaf, the provenance of the leaf. Even the temperature of the water. Our best advice is to treat all tea and coffee similarly if you need to manage your caffeine intake.

    I’ve heard that tea contains theanine. What is it and what does it do?
    Tea does indeed contain theanine, which is an amino acid [the building blocks of proteins]. Tea is one of only a few sources of theanine. It represents about 1% of dry weight and is at its highest concentrate in shade-grown teas like matcha and gyokuro. Whilst not yet proven in scientific studies that would permit specific health claims to be made, it is believed by many to be able to reduce mental and physical stress, promote relaxation and a sense of well-being. But not only that, it is more recently being thought to aid cognitive function. It’s one explanation for tea’s famous ability to create calm in a crisis [the Great British solution to all problems – ‘putting the kettle on’] and to stimulate when a little boost is required.

  • Delivery & Returns

    UK Standard Delivery: £3.95
    UK Next Day Delivery (mainland UK only): £9.95 (Order before 12pm)
    International Delivery is available, please see our delivery page for details. For more information and Terms & Conditions, please see our Delivery page.

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