Chinese flowering tea balls

Flowering tea balls are a small bundle of dried tea leaves and flowers bound together with cotton thread, usually into a ball shape. When steeped, the bundle expands and unfurls in a process that emulates a blooming flower. Typically they are sourced from the Yunnan province of China. Flowers commonly used in flowering teas include globe amaranth,chrysanthemum, jasmine, lily, hibiscus, and osmanthus.

It remains uncertain whether flowering tea was developed in the 1980s or was a much older invention.

Flowering tea balls are best served in containers made of glass, or other transparent material, so that the flowering effect can be seen. The bundles can usually be resteeped one or two more times without the tea becoming bitter.

Tea balls

Made by hand through an innovative and complex process that entwines the highest grade special green and black tea of fresh spring crops with natural herbal flowers. The result is a most unique appearance, splendid infusion view and lingering flower scent. Brew the tea in a transparent teapot or tall glass with hot water, then just sit back and enjoy the taste and the work of art that will unfold in front of your eyes.

In addition to great taste and subtle aroma, blooming green tea is known to have excellent health benefits. It is low in caffeine, extremely high in anti-oxidants and fluoride. Green tea has been used to prevent and treat a variety of cancers, including breast, stomach, and skin cancers. It also has been used for improving mental alertness, aiding in weight loss, lowering cholesterol levels, and protecting skin from sun damage. The flowers used in tea balls carry their own benefits.