What is Blooming Tea? How to Make It, Health Benefits, & History

Blooming tea, also known as "flowering tea" or "flower craft" tea, is a unique and visually stunning tea made by hand-tying high-quality tea leaves and edible flowers into a compact bundle. When steeped in hot water, the tea unfurls into a vibrant, flower-like bloom. This tea offers a sensory experience, combining delicate flavors for a beautiful visual display. Our blooming tea features a white tea base with hints of blueberry and white peach, hand-tied with amaranth and jasmine flowers.

What is blooming tea, and what does it look like?

Blooming tea is a unique, handcrafted tea made by carefully tying together high-quality leaves, typically white or green tea, with edible flowers like jasmine, lily, or osmanthus. When steeped in hot water, the tightly bound bundle gradually unfurls, transforming into a stunning flower-like shape. This unique steeping process turns blooming tea into a visual and aromatic experience as the leaves expand and release their natural fragrances and flavors.

When you see blooming tea in action, it’s easy to recognize how the bundle unfurls into a multi-petaled flower as it steeps. The color and shape of the flower may vary depending on the specific blend, but it usually reveals a central bloom surrounded by unfolding tea leaves. Often served in a clear glass teapot or cup, blooming tea becomes a captivating centerpiece as it opens up. It is a popular choice for tea lovers who appreciate its beauty and subtle, floral taste.

How do you brew it and how long do you let it steep?

To brew blooming tea, it’s best to use a clear glass teapot or a glass cup so you can fully appreciate the visual spectacle as the tea unfurls. Here are the steps to brew it properly:

1. Start by boiling fresh, filtered water. Blooming tea is most often made with green or white tea leaves, so the water temperature should be just under boiling, around 185°F (85°C) for green tea or 175°F (80°C) for white tea.
2. Add the blooming tea. Place one blooming tea ball per 16-ounce (475 ml) teapot or glass cup. If you’re brewing for a small serving, adjust accordingly just remember the leaves will need space to expand. 
3. Pour the water: Gently pour the hot water over the tea ball, allowing it to unfurl slowly. Avoid pouring too quickly; the petals need time to open up fully. 
4. Let it steep: Allow the tea to steep for 3 to 5 minutes. You’ll see the bundle gradually open up into a flower. Depending on the blooming tea, the flower may take a little longer or shorter to bloom fully.
5. Enjoy: Once the tea has steeped, you can pour and enjoy!

Can you reuse blooming tea after the first brew?

You can reuse blooming tea after the first brew. The tea can be steeped a second time, though it’s usually a good idea to add a little extra time for the second infusion.

How it’s made and what it’s made from

Blooming Tea has a unique process. 

• Handcrafted Process: Blooming tea is made by hand, with skilled artisans carefully hand-tying together a bundle of dried tea leaves and edible flowers.
• Tea Leaves: The base of blooming tea is typically high-quality white tea or green tea leaves, though sometimes oolong tea can also be used. Black tea is less common for blooming teas.
• Edible Flowers: The flowers hand-tied into the tea balls are often jasmine, lily, osmanthus, hibiscus, or other edible blossoms, chosen for their flavor and visual appeal.
• Tightly Wrapped: The tea leaves and flowers are bundled tightly into a compact, hand-rolled ball that will expand when hot water is added.
• Drying: Once the bundle is assembled, it is carefully dried to preserve the leaves' natural flavors and the flowers' fragrance.

These hand-crafted tea balls give blooming tea its distinctive visual effect when brewed.

Is blooming tea good for you?

Blooming tea may offer potential health benefits, much like other types of tea, mainly if it’s made from high-quality white tea or green leaves. These teas are rich in antioxidants like catechins and polyphenols, which help combat oxidative stress and may reduce the risk of chronic diseases. The tea may support heart health by improving blood flow, reducing cholesterol, and lowering blood pressure. 

It also provides a gentle caffeine boost, enhancing mental focus and alertness without the jittery effects often associated with coffee. The hydration from the tea itself is another potential benefit, as it may help maintain energy levels, support digestion, and keep the body hydrated. Some varieties of blooming tea, such as those infused with jasmine or osmanthus, are believed to have soothing properties that can aid digestion and reduce bloating. However, the health benefits can vary depending on the specific blend and how the tea is consumed.

Where is blooming tea from?

Blooming tea is believed to originate from China, where it has a long history tied to the country's rich tea culture. Hand-rolling tea leaves and flowers into a tight bundle to create the "blooming" effect dates back to the late 20th century. However, it gained more widespread popularity in the 21st century as a unique and visually stunning way to enjoy tea.

The process of making blooming tea requires great craftsmanship. Artists carefully hand-tie together tea leaves, often from high-quality white or green tea, along with edible flowers like jasmine, lily, or osmanthus. These handcrafted tea balls are typically dried and shipped worldwide, where tea drinkers can experience the tea's visual transformation as it "blooms" when hot water is added.

Though blooming tea is now enjoyed globally, especially in Western countries, as a novelty or special occasion tea, its roots are deeply embedded in Chinese tea traditions, where tea has been an essential part of culture and daily life for thousands of years. Fusing fine tea and beautiful flowers is a modern, artistic twist on ancient tea craftsmanship.