Tea Flowers (Organic)

Backlog:

A very soothing tisane (although it feels weird to be calling something from the camellia sinensis plant a ‘tisane’) it’s very enjoyable. It has a honey-esque sort of taste, pollen-y, with nectar-like tones. It’s got a very smooth texture, it feels soft as I drink it, and it tastes soft and smooth as well.

A natural, light sweetness to it. A nice, late-night drink that is a little bit sweet and very relaxing. Here’s my full-length review of this one: http://sororiteasisters.com/2013/06/03/organic-tea-flowers-from-the-tao-of-tea/

The liquor is a lovely amber color. The flavor of this actually reminds me of an oolong. It’s sweet, malty, woodsy, but with a very…unique vegetal note. Not quite spinach but close. Almost as if someone mixed an oolong with chrysanthemum flowers.

Much more delicate and floral when brewed at the recommended temp. Stronger notes of honey/pollen as well.

The dry flowers have a light fruity aroma. I put them in my 6 oz. glass teapot and gave them a good rinse, then brewed them for 3 min. at 185 degrees. The resulting medium-dark yellow brew was slightly bitter, so I tried a lower temperature the second time.

5-6g of flowers, 6 oz. of 170 degree water for 3 minutes: Now we’re talking! I got a golden yellow brew without much aroma, but fairly smooth with a mineral aftertaste. The surprise came after I let it cool for a bit—it became much sweeter, with a spicy warm flavor very much like cinnamon and fruit. Drinkable apple cobbler :)

Good for 2-3 infusions using this much “leaf” in a small pot.

I gave these dry leaves a rinse with room temperature water because they are a hearty blossom with lots of little parts, nooks, and crannies. They remind me of popcorn with a tougher outer husk and then a puffy whitish flower inside. They still have the inner stamens or middles of the flowers intact which tells me how hearty the tea flower and tea plant really is!!! There are also the green base of the stem below the blossom still attached to some which is fun. This dry leaf smells very herbal. I love that smell, like a cool local health food shop with all the loose herbs that you can choose from. It really smells like dried basil and subtle amounts of mint.
The liquor is a golden clear color and smells like mixed herbs as well. It really tastes like chamomile tea but a little more creamy than chamomile. There is a note of corn on the cob in there as well.
I am not putting “flowers” in the flavors below because I don’t think dried flowers taste floral. They taste like mixed herbs to me. Floral is a scent and flavor of the living flower and the essences that it gives off ,,to me. There is no floral taste or scent which is good to me.
I like this herbal as a novelty and I wonder if it has any special healing properties? I like it. I am getting an even more creamy note as the liquor cools down. Very fun and delicious!!!
Adding to my cupboard as one to keep ;)