Blooming tea originates from the Yunnan province in the far south east of China, known for several different types of tea including Pu-erh. The history of blooming tea is not entirely clear, some believe it to be a modern creation whereas others trace its existence back hundreds of years.
Appearance
Blooming teas are noted more for their appearance than their flavor. They are typically made of tea leaves (mostly tea buds) that have been sewn by hand into a shape such as a sphere/globe, peach, oval, disc, rosette, mushroom, cone or heart. The tea leaves are sometimes pressed flat before they are sewn into three-dimensional shapes, and they may have a residual texture/imprint if they were pressed between pieces of cloth or paper.
How Blooming Teas Are Made
Blooming teas are typically made from the delicate buds of the tea plant. In Fujian in particular, they are often made with white tea varietals, which have long, soft buds.
The leaves are processed into tea (usually green tea, but sometimes white tea or black tea), then moistened and shaped by hand. Using food-safe string, bundles of about 20 leaves are sewn into shape, often around one or more flowers. They may be wrapped in cloth while they dry -- this helps them hold their shape better.
Benefits of Blooming Tea
The many benefits of blooming tea include preventing chronic disease and cancer, boosting the metabolism, protecting the skin, lowering stress, increasing heart health, stimulating cognitive function, reducing inflammation, treating respiratory disease, enhancing vision, detoxifying the body, promoting good digestion and easing the pain. Given the unique composition of blooming tea, the side effects will depend on which flowers are used in the mixture and are mainly related to allergic reactions to different families of flowering plants.
Bloming Tea Brewing Instructions
1. Remove the tea bloom from its sealed packaging and place the tea ball in your empty glass mug or glass teapot.
2. Heat fresh filtered water to 180°(water boils at 212°F, so your water doesn't need to be boiling before removing it from the heat).
(Note: keep in mind that boiling water too long will deplete the water of oxygen necessary for flavor extraction.)
3. Place the tea flower pod in the bottom of the teapot or mug and pour hot water 3-4 inches above it to allow the flower to fully bloom.
4. Watch the tea bloom unfurl from its tiny ball into a beautiful flower. This usually takes 3-10 minutes. Stir tea gently to even flavor before drinking.
5. If you used a tea pitcher or glass pot, simply pour your tea directly into your mug and add sweetener if desired. If you steeped your flowering tea bloom in the mug, carefully remove the hot tea bloom and set aside. (This can be used 2 to 3 more times).
NOTE: It's important to remove the tea bloom from your pitcher if you don't drink it all, because if you leave the flowering bloom in contact with the hot water for too long it can change the taste and usually makes it tastes too bitter.
How to Drink Pu Erh Tea for Weight Loss
Pu-erh tea is one of the favorites in the weight loss tea category because it has a number of properties that will help you lose weight more quickly and effectively.
Tea with Caffeine
Caffeine occurs naturally in tea. A mild stimulant, it accounts for tea’s reputation as a beverage that clears the mind and lifts the spirit.
Chinese Black Tea Benefits
Chinese black tea is often confused with red tea because black tea in America is something completely different. Chinese black tea can also be called fermented tea or more commonly known as dark tea.
